For the second time, Mexican aerospace officials have cancelled a conference in Wichita, KS, designed to lure more aircraft jobs to Mexico. Last April, the magazine Mexico Now cancelled the conference after District Lodge 70 announced plans to picket the conference. This time the conference wasn’t publicly announced, but the Machinists and the Wichita Eagle found out about it. After the announcement the District would protest, the conference was quickly cancelled, no reason given.
“Some Wichita planemakers have invited them back,” said District 70 Directing Business Representative Steve Rooney. “At a time when the State of Kansas is putting taxpayer money on the table to keep aviation jobs, this is a slap in the face of the governor, the taxpayer, and the aircraft workers in Wichita.”
“It was an insult to everyone in Wichita,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “Aviation is the lifeblood of this community, and to have a conference on how to steal the industry from Wichita won’t be tolerated. Such a conference shouldn’t be welcome anywhere in North America.”
