Boeing CEO apologizes for saying he’ll keep workers ‘cowering’
Jul 25, 2014, 3:51 PM | Updated: 4:15 pm
Boeing CEO Jim McNerney has apologized in a companywide message for saying he won’t retire after turning 65 next month because “the heart will still be beating, the employees will still be cowering,” The Seattle Times reports.
McNerney made the remark during a conference call with analysts Wednesday, drawing the ire of Boeing employees.
The President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) demanded an apology earlier Friday.
“Boeing’s CEO would have been far better served to give credit to the workforce that has driven the company’s sales and profits to record levels,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. “Instead, his unfunny and unnecessary remarks serve as reminder that the Jack Welch style of anti-personnel management is still alive and well at Boeing. If he is able to get his foot out of his mouth, the very next thing we hear from Mr. McNerney should be a sincere apology to all employees at Boeing.”
A number of workers called KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson Show to express their outrage over McNerney’s statement.
“We’re absolutely furious, all my union brothers and sisters,” said Kevin in Bothell.
Julie in Auburn told Dori she’s worked for Boeing for 28 years and was stunned by the comments.
“I’ve worked my butt off to make these guys rich, and for his comments to call us cowards, it just made me sick to my stomach.”
McNerney chuckled after making the comment, and said in his message to employees Friday it was a “joke gone bad.”
“I was simply trying to make light of my age and tenure at the company on a question that I have been asked at least a dozen times over the past several weeks alone… 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,” McNerney said in the message obtained by The Seattle Times.
“I should have used different words, and I apologize for them. I will definitely be more careful going forward.”
