Biz

Boeing’s CEO Wants His Workers To “Cower”

LEADER OF CRONY CAPITALIST GIANT STUMBLES BADLY …  Jim McNerney – the CEO of crony capitalist aircraft manufacturer Boeing – made a major gaffe on a conference call earlier this week, referring to the company’s workers as “cowering” before him. The 64-year-old executive made the remark when a reporter asked…

LEADER OF CRONY CAPITALIST GIANT STUMBLES BADLY … 

Jim McNerney – the CEO of crony capitalist aircraft manufacturer Boeing – made a major gaffe on a conference call earlier this week, referring to the company’s workers as “cowering” before him.

The 64-year-old executive made the remark when a reporter asked him about his future with the company after his upcoming 65th birthday.

“The heart will still be beating, the employees will still be cowering, I’ll be working hard,” McNerney said, according to Bloomberg News . “There’s no end in sight. We’re continuing to build a succession plan and alternatives to succeed me eventually, but there’s no discussion of it yet.”

Needless to say Boeing’s workers – especially the unionized ones – didn’t appreciate McNerney’s remark, with the head of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers calling them “unfunny and unnecessary.”

Two days later McNerney issued a statement apologizing for his comments – which he claimed were “a joke gone bad.”

“I was simply trying to make light of my age and tenure at the company,” he said. “There was no intent to slight anyone but myself, and the last thing on my mind was to characterize my relationship with Boeing employees in any negative way.”

“I should have used different words, and I apologize for them,” McNerney’s statement continued. “I will definitely be more careful going forward.”

Ah, corporate public relations …

McNerney’s gaffe comes as Boeing is attempting to have its multi-billion dollar, taxpayer-guaranteed slush fund – a.k.a. the U.S. Export-Import Bank – reauthorized.  This website has consistently opposed “Boeing’s Bank” because it unnecessarily exposes taxpayers to risk and raises prices for air travelers due to reduced competition.

Boeing’s stock has been dropping in recent weeks – falling from $138.25 on June 6 to $123.20 as of Friday’s closing bell.

Good … couldn’t happen to a nicer company as far as we’re concerned.

Unlike the rest of the bought-and-paid-for mainstream media, we’ve been able to get inside Boeing’s North Charleston, S.C. facility to get the real scoop on serious production problems and the increasing likelihood the plant will be unionized.

Stay tuned for much more on that in the weeks to come …

(Banner via)

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57 comments

McNerney July 26, 2014 at 8:16 pm

Someone’s got to do the nigger work.

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Will Folks aka Sic July 26, 2014 at 8:22 pm

Stay classy, brah.

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Squishy123 July 26, 2014 at 9:05 pm

You do realize this is FitsNews, where “classy” is forbidden.

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McNerney July 26, 2014 at 9:12 pm

It’s not forbidden, nothing here is forbidden(unfortunately), that’s why Grand Tango can shit all over the site and post advertisements for his echo chamber 24/7.

What you probably meant to say is that “classy” is boring here, to which I agree…which is why most of us come here and don’t act “classy”.

I can get “classy” and a nap anywhere.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein July 26, 2014 at 9:52 pm

True story.
One of TBG’s funniest memories is the expression on the face of a black, major retail store manager, when his white, assistant manager complained that he was being worked “like a nigger.”

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Rims for Rent July 27, 2014 at 10:16 am

“pimpin’s tough” someone said on here recently?

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Deo Vindice SC July 26, 2014 at 8:41 pm

Give me the job @!

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Sandi Morals July 26, 2014 at 9:23 pm

Don’t like that a bit.

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McNerney July 26, 2014 at 9:32 pm

That’s only because you’ve no sense of humor. Of course, if my job was to rim lick Nikki Haley’s unwiped ass all day long I’d probably be humorless too.

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Sandi Morals July 26, 2014 at 10:26 pm

I don’t work for Haley. Never met her.
Also don’t care IF you work for Ervin and hate black folks.
None of my business. Just expressed my disdain for your comment.

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Paul July 27, 2014 at 7:42 am

Please tell me you don’t actually believe all this pro Haley stuff you spout, I could stomach it better if you were getting paid.

The fact that you actually believe it leaves me with little hope for our fine state.

SCBlues July 27, 2014 at 10:48 am

“Someone’s got to do the nigger work.”
It is okay to mean nigger but not actually say nigger (at least don’t do it in public or in “mixed” company) . . for instance when speaking of the mayor of a city who is black you just call them Mayor-Hood to get your meaning across but still be able to say you did not actually use that N-Word . . . guess that is the “classy” way to do it . . .

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coolhandluke July 26, 2014 at 8:19 pm

Slick Willie/Fits, this was not really worth posting. People make boo-boos in their life almost daily in speech and writing. Why did you not give this a few days before you slapped it up here. U that hard up for news?”

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You Aint Paul Newman July 26, 2014 at 8:49 pm

Boo-boo my ass. Arrogance is harder to cure than stupid. Although coolhandluke’s stupid may be incurable.

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Haley And Our Money July 26, 2014 at 8:23 pm

Fuck his goddamn planes.

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Sixth Sense July 26, 2014 at 8:29 pm

It was not a joke. It was his narcissistic mentally that came out proving that he thinks he is a ruler.
And his apology is that of a person who is a sociopath. I have seen many in my life act just as he does. He is a wicked man behind his mask of deception. That is what power does to many. Just look at Obama. Perfect example.

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Steve July 27, 2014 at 7:35 am

or Haley

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Sandi Morals July 27, 2014 at 7:00 pm

or ‘2% Tom Ervin ‘

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imongo July 26, 2014 at 8:35 pm

Lighten up. Enjoy your next flight! Joke people.

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CNSYD July 26, 2014 at 8:37 pm

Boeing needs more competition? Lets see, their competition is….Airbus. Why Airbus is the least “free market” builder of the two. Sic Willie never seems to want to delve into who “owns” Airbus. That’s your choices. Boeing or Airbus. There ain’t no one else in the game.

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jodieekennedy July 26, 2014 at 9:05 pm

Start working at home with Google! I just got paid $7500 working off my computer this month. Anybody can make over $5000 per month.I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringing home at least $50 per hour. I work through this link, go? to tech tab for work detail…………,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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McNerney July 26, 2014 at 9:14 pm

I started working your Mom from home and she paid me $7500 for the month, but thanks for the advice.

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CorruptionInColumbia July 26, 2014 at 11:37 pm

I have a friend who says she gave him crabs and herpes.

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Deo Vindice SC July 26, 2014 at 8:39 pm

He is tired of the SC bullshit and Nikki Haley. Can you blame him ?

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RogueElephant July 26, 2014 at 8:40 pm

Unfortunate but revealing choice of words. CEOs like him are where unions get their toe hold from, then it is all down hill from there. I have worked for all kinds in my lifetime . His kind are the worst.

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Deo Vindice SC July 26, 2014 at 8:43 pm

Good point ! A union job in SC is Verboten. !

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Deo Vindice SC July 26, 2014 at 8:45 pm

Why would he pay Nikki and the R party just to build the planes here ?

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truthmonger July 28, 2014 at 7:25 am

CEOs like him are why unions are necessary. Employees deserve to be able to negotiate for pay and benefits in good faith without having to “cower”.

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Michael Merry July 28, 2014 at 4:49 pm

“Absurd Socialist Rag Disseminating Lies, Mischaracterizing Offhand Comments By Boeing CEO “

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disenchanted July 29, 2014 at 8:43 am

You don’t sound very Merry. Does someone have a little rage problem ? What’s the lie ?

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Bible Thumper July 26, 2014 at 9:27 pm

If you read the question and answer carefully, it is obvious the guy is sensitive about his age. In a clumsy snarky way, he wants you to know that in spite of his age he still has it.

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ReElect Nikki July 26, 2014 at 10:34 pm

All this negativity!

Is this any way to treat a “Jobs Creator?”

Give him a damn tax cut so he can “invest” and “create”more jobs!

Thank God For Nikki Haley!

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disenchanted July 29, 2014 at 8:44 am

How can you give a tax cut to someone who pays no taxes ?

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Manray9 July 26, 2014 at 11:00 pm

Well McNerney brought Boeing to SC where the workers are expected to cower before the “boss man.” That’s why it’s a “Right to Work” state,

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Karadion July 26, 2014 at 11:03 pm

Actually Mullaly brought Boeing to SC back when the program was starting.

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Manray9 July 26, 2014 at 11:11 pm

McNerney has been CEO since 2005. No operations began in SC until he was CEO. Here’s the history:

http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/charleston/pdf/bkg_BoeingSC.pdf

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Karadion July 26, 2014 at 11:11 pm

Nope. Your linked history even supports my argument. “Boeing South Carolina began in 2004 as two companies” That’s two years before Mullaly left for Ford when the 787 program was launched in 2004.

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2014/05/06/south-carolina-newspaper-credits-alan-mulally-for.html?page=all
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140504/PC05/140509871

FYI, I work at BSC.

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Very Serious Matter Now July 26, 2014 at 11:19 pm

This dumbass just fucked up. The North Charleston plant will see the results as to why in many many ways. You never say anything like this about the human beings that work under you. It is like spitting in there face and rubbing it in with your hands.

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Smirks July 28, 2014 at 8:26 am

You never say anything like this about the human beings that work under you.

They don’t consider the employees under them human beings.

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McNerney July 28, 2014 at 8:27 am

Who’s “they”? I thought we were talking about me.

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McNerney July 28, 2014 at 8:26 am

“It is like spitting in there face and rubbing it in with your hands.”

You must be a line worker.

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Very Serious Matter Now July 26, 2014 at 11:22 pm

Stocks are nothing but a Ponzi scheme. Just like Fakebook. Its all on paper.. Up and Down . .Buy and Sell .. back and forth. Ponzi.

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EJB July 28, 2014 at 7:19 am

You need to study up on Ponzi schemes.

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cuvinny July 26, 2014 at 11:26 pm

This is why unions are still important, no matter what Fits says

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easterndumbfuckastan July 27, 2014 at 9:20 am

Unions are just as corrupt as the corporations. They were useful at one time but not any longer. Just another scheme to take money from the worker bees.

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truthmonger July 28, 2014 at 7:28 am

How are they not useful? They are the only ones on the side of the workers. Oh, and why is it that UNION employees make so much more than NON-union employees? How is providing fair wages and safer working environments for employees TAKING from them?

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Smirks July 28, 2014 at 8:16 am

Unions are responsible for a lot of things we take for granted. I agree that unions can be corrupt, but often they help.

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Yep! July 28, 2014 at 10:47 am

It’s really unlibertarian to fight against Unions… I have no idea why the Sic one is carrying that cross.

People should be free to do whatever they want as long as they aren’t hurting people and/or stealing property.

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easterndumbfuckastan July 27, 2014 at 9:18 am

Smartassed comment gone bad, but if he were middle or line management he would have been fired or at a minimum sent to sensitivity and union awareness training.

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GrandTango July 27, 2014 at 9:26 am

New York Times admits Americans’ household worth down 36 percent under Obama!

FITS has something in common with the NYT. He’ll blame ANYBODY but who is responsible.

Good read: http://scdigest.blogspot.com/2014/07/household-worth-down-36-percent-under.html

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Latisha July 27, 2014 at 11:04 am

Nikki Haley is just like him and his slave taking money.

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GrandTango July 27, 2014 at 3:04 pm

Actually, Obama, who has totally F*#k#d up the US economy, has created the most slaves since 1800s democrats. You represent yourself as Ignorant and uneducated.

It’s people like you who follow the Hitlers Stalins and Obamas of the world.

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Tango's Pre-Edit July 27, 2014 at 4:36 pm

“Actually, Obama, who has totally F*#k#d up the US economy, has created the most slaves since 1800s democrats. You represent yourself as Ignorant and uneducated.

It’s people like you who follow the Hitlers Stalins and Obamas of the world.”

This is some nice writing, Hoss.

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Latisha July 27, 2014 at 8:00 pm

You represent all the inbreeding crackers in this state you fucking piece of shit.

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Shaniqua July 27, 2014 at 8:27 pm

While I agree with your comment, I can’t stop laughing over your name.

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nitrat July 27, 2014 at 3:23 pm

Koch Industries benefits from the same taxpayer funded incentives and political crony capitalism across this country as Boeing.

“We are philosophically opposed, but have not lobbied on the Export-Import Bank issue,” said Philip Ellender, president and chief operating officer of Koch Cos. Public Sector.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/07/19/5048487/export-import-bank-creates-political.html#storylink=cpy

Do the Kochs tell you that the libertarian sheeple are too stupid to know that?

They’re probably right.

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Mike Donovan August 24, 2014 at 7:07 pm

Cower to retire

Preserving one’s benefit is paramount. Boeing has been know for its pension and generous benefits.

Although these benefits have vanished for new comers, those who have a pension and 2 or more decades at Boeing have a lot to lose especially when the cost cutting trend is now in full swing. Hanging on until eligibility is rather a complex game; trickier at the top than at the bottom. Employee surveys for instance can really affect a manager’s retirement. Employee surveys measure engagement. Gallup studies have shown a strong correlation between Engagement an future earnings. A low employee engagement, meaning a low participation in the employee survey affect stock option and stock related bonuses: the type of bonus once get at the director and executive levels. Affect their bonuses and it trickles down to the managers.

So what should Managers who have a pension to lose do? Be the advocate of their subordinates and risk losing their pension? That would go against human nature.

Cowering is the logical answer as Chairman Jim McNerney pointed out right after an earning call with investors. The time could not have been more appropriate. The more benefits waiting their maturity date the more cowering. A negative feedback loop reinforced from the Chairman down to the hourly employee.

The average age at Boeing is right around 46. Although a significant percentage of Boeing employees are now eligible to retire (first wave of baby boomers), most are not there yet, but close. During a cost cutting trend, one can only imagine how excruciating the wait might be for those directors and managers. cowering is a predictable consequence.

Cowering and fearing nurture discontent. fuel the fire with unions, and incidently fuel the employee survey. Although the survey might show a high percentage of discontentment, the mere participation in an employee survey helps raise the engagement percentage up which in turns helps directors and executives stock option and retirement bonuses–cowering feeds the top layers.

Based on baby boomer pension benefits and retirement waves still to come, the cowering at Boeing is bound to last another decade at least.

Who in his/her right mind would join such a company?

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