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Thursday, September 9, 2004

Boeing 'stars' in movie about outsourcing

By PAUL NYHAN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Local residents can get a fresh view of the outsourcing debate Monday evening at the West Coast premiere of "American Jobs," a documentary on the state of work and global trade in the United States.

It's no surprise that Seattle will host one of seven premieres around the country. The Boeing Co. has made no secret of its desire to build planes with fewer workers, and the software industry continues to ship work overseas.

Boeing also emerged as a key subject in the outsourcing debate because of its long-standing practice of placing work in countries where it is trying to sell planes and spreading risk on new projects by farming out work to foreign suppliers.

The company is featured prominently in the film, with interviews of local union leaders and plenty of data on recent layoffs.

The hourlong film is the brainchild of one-time MTV producer Greg Spotts, who directed and produced it.

"We have probably one of the most skilled (work forces) in the United States, if not the world," around Seattle, Spotts said yesterday. "And yet we are starting to see an erosion of that well-paid group of high-skilled people."

While the documentary highlights how U.S. workers are struggling with outsourcing, Spotts also hopes the film leads to solutions.

The 36-year-old suggests it's time to review and reform our guest visa program, possibly consider an industrial policy for strategic industries and rethink our approach to global trade.

"My investigation continues even though the film is done," Spotts said.

GET INVOLVED

  • What: Premiere and discussion of "American Jobs," a documentary on the loss of U.S. jobs to other nations and globalization.

  • Where: Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle

  • When: 7 p.m. Monday.

    P-I reporter Paul Nyhan can be reached at 206-448-8145 or paulnyhan@seattlepi.com
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