Boeing Pledges to Ease Impact of Plant Closures

Mayor Bob Bartlett said he feels the Boeing Co. betrayed the city by announcing it would close two plants in the city by 2000 after assuring him previously about their future.

A Boeing spokesman told the City Council on Tuesday that there must have been a misunderstanding, and said the company will work with the city to reduce the impact of the closure of the former McDonnell Douglas plants, which employ 1,100 workers.

The industry giant announced the shutdowns Friday as part of a downsizing of the company after its merger with McDonnell Douglas last year. Some of those jobs will be transferred to plants elsewhere.

Bartlett said when Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas, the company told him it expected to add 200 to 300 jobs, not eliminate the plants.

Boeing plans to sell its 190,000-square-foot plant on Royal Oak Drive and terminate a lease on the facility on Shamrock Avenue.