Jackson Aims at Boosting Morale at Boeing Plant

The Rev. Jesse Jackson delivered his message of racial harmony to workers at Boeing Co.’s Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power facility Wednesday in an attempt to improve employee relations at the aerospace company.

Jackson’s visit was the final leg in a four-facility tour designed to boost worker morale in the wake of last month’s settlement of two class-action lawsuits by African American employees alleging discrimination in the workplace.

Jackson, who helped mediate the $15-million settlement, has already visited Boeing facilities in Seattle, St. Louis and Wichita, Kan.

“As I look at your faces today, I believe Dr. King and Cesar Chavez would rejoice,” Jackson told about 1,000 workers gathered in a courtyard at the Canoga Avenue facility. “Because here we stand: white, black, brown, red and yellow. This is America at its best.”

The leader of the National Rainbow Coalition encouraged employees to embrace their diversity and use it as a strategic marketing tool in the global economy.

“A global company must have a global mentality,” Jackson said, adding that being global means going “beyond the map, beyond language and beyond religion. Your customers are global.”

In order to be successful on the world stage, Jackson said, racial, cultural and gender gaps must first be bridged at home.

“On your best days, you can hurl rockets into outer space with godlike ability,” Jackson said. “On your worst days, you can’t get along with the person at the next desk.”

Boeing’s challenge, he said, is to make sure that there is workplace security where men and women can grow regardless of their gender, race or religion.

“The speech was inspirational,” said engineer Larry E. Hill. “Maybe Boeing will get itself together and think more about giving people an equal opportunity to make money and retire from here.”

“We should all work together here,” said Carlene Burgess, a systems analyst. “We have to stay focused on the fact that we are all in the same boat.”

In a news conference following his speech, Jackson said Boeing Chief Executive Phil Condit has promised that the company would bring more diversity to its board of directors and suppliers.