Boeing Bosses 'Strip Mining' Co. for Profit, Execs 'Sticking It to Employees': Whistleblower, Sen. Hearing
🛬 Boeing bosses accused of ‘strip mining’ company for profit in Senate hearing.
Senators also say executives ‘sticking it to your employees’ as another whistleblower comes forward. The Guardian, June 18, 2024. Ed.
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The CEO of Boeing has acknowledged “something went wrong” at the embattled planemaker after another whistleblower came forward, alleging that corners were cut on its production line. Dave Calhoun acknowledged some employees who raised concerns about safety and quality inside the company faced retaliation. The executive did not have the number of managers fired for retaliating against whistleblowers “on the tip of my tongue”, he told senators, “but I know it happens.”
At a hearing entitled “Boeing’s Broken Safety Culture”, Richard Blumenthal, chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, declared that the company was facing a “moment of reckoning” – and called for prosecutions. In heated exchanges, Calhoun – who has already announced plans to step down later this year – and Boeing executives were accused of “strip mining” the company for profit.
“You’re cutting corners, you’re eliminating safety procedures, you’re sticking it to your employees,” said Josh Hawley, the Republican senator.
“It’s working out great for you,” Hawley added, citing Calhoun’s “extraordinary” $33m pay package and asking why he had not yet resigned. “I’m sticking this through,” Calhoun replied. “I am proud of every action we have taken.” Hours before the session Sam Mohawk, a quality assurance inspector for the company in Renton, Wash., became the latest Boeing employee to go public with claims of safety issues. He alleged that he was instructed by his supervisors to conceal evidence from regulators.
Boeing has come under intense scrutiny since a terrifying cabin panel blowout in January prompted fresh questions about quality and safety...
https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/18/boeing-ceo-dave-calhoun-senate-hearing