Unions want to tie Boeing's giant tax breaks to its wages and jobs numbers

SEATTLE (AP) — Leaders of the two largest unions representing thousands of Boeing workers are renewing calls for lawmakers to pass measures that would tie the aerospace giant's tax breaks in the state to job numbers.

The union leaders were joined Monday by Democratic state Rep. June Robinson. They argue that Boeing has been able to move jobs from Washington state in spite of tax breaks granted to the aerospace giant in 2013 to secure the 777X program in Everett. Those tax breaks could save the aerospace giant as much as $8.7 billion in taxes through 2040, yet it has shipped some jobs out of state.

Union leaders want lawmakers to reconsider two measures introduced earlier this year by Robinson. One ties tax breaks to jobs and the other requires aerospace suppliers to meet specific wage standards in order to be eligible for certain business tax incentives.