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Lockheed Martin union chief lobbies for continuing F-22 program
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Blue-collar workers typically get hit hardest during a lousy economy, and this recession plays true to form. More than 1.1 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since the recession began in December 2007.
An additional 95,000 jobs nationwide could be in jeopardy if the White House declines to continue production of the F-22 Raptor, built partly in Marietta by Lockheed Martin Corp. President Barack Obama must decide by March 1 whether to buy more of the supersonic jets or let the current contract end in December 2011.
Sean Drakes/Special
Jeff Goen of the International Association of Machinists has been with Lockheed for 30 years. He supports the F-22 and the 2,000 Cobb County jobs that could be affected if production ceased.
Roughly 2,000 Cobb County jobs — 600 unionized — are on the line. Jeff Goen, president of Local No. 709 of the International Association of Machinists, is lobbying to make sure his men and women don’t add to the unemployment rolls.
Goen, 54, spoke with reporter Dan Chapman recently about the F-22 (“the baddest bird in the sky”), the Obama administration, the economy and the union’s next contract.
Q: Obama must decide by March 1 to spend $523 million on 20 additional F-22s. With hundreds of billions of dollars committed to stimulating the economy, and with the deficit exploding, what do you expect the president to do?
A: In his bid for the presidency he said he’d maintain jobs. Well, here’s 95,000 jobs as opposed to cutting 95,000 jobs. I don’t see how he cannot approve it. It only makes sense that he would support that program.
Q: It seems like every other year the White House threatens to kill the F-22, and each time Congress, the defense industry and others keep it alive. Why is that?
A: I’ve been at Lockheed for 30 years. Aircraft programs have always been political footballs. You get one side that says, “We need to do this,” and the other says, “We have to cut that.” But that is the way the defense industry works. It’s all about what the politicians decide. That’s why it’s important that the politicians hear about the industry from workers and others. The F-22 is currently at a very critical stage.
Q: But the Pentagon has already said it’ll soon begin production of the F-35 to replace the much more expensive F-22. The plane’s midsection will be built in Marietta. So what’s the worry?
A: If the F-22 stays, and there’s money for 60 additional aircraft, our manpower numbers in Marietta will be up by 1,000-plus employees. If we lose that and December 2011 is the delivery date of the last aircraft, we’ll have a three-year gap before the F-35. We’ll see some layoffs probably because of that gap.
Q: Overseas sales of F-22s would keep the production line humming. But should the U.S. put its most high-tech jet fighter into foreign hands?
A: No, I’ll never be a proponent of giving away our technology that protects us. I don’t think anybody should have our latest, greatest technology.
Q: Regardless, Lockheed Martin in Marietta is poised for growth, no?
A: They’re ramping up the C-130 program and increasing manpower. We’re currently building 12 a year. They’ll ramp it up from 12 to 18 a year, then 18 to 24, then 24 to 36 within the next three years. And if the Navy re-wings all its P-3s, then that program will last 15 years. Everything we’ve been hearing in the past several months has been positive news.
Q: I assume, then, that your local is healthy?
A: We have grown since I’ve been in this position [since January 2007] by approximately 100 net new members.
Q: How about relations with Lockheed Martin since the weeklong strike in 2005?
A: We’ve had over the years a lot of labor-management head butting, but we have a better relationship now than we’ve had in the past. Certainly we got one of our best contracts ever in 2008. We’re here to make a decent living, and maintain that living, and they’re out here to make a decent product and maintain that product.
Q: What’s most important for your next contract?
A: If history repeats itself, the big issue will be just like last time - pensions. All over the U.S. corporations are trying to get rid of defined benefit pension plans. Health care will also be a major issue. We have good wages. Of course, as the economy gets worse, and prices get higher, we’ll certainly need more wages. But the main issues are pensions and health care.
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