--- title: A history of mismanagement could be to blame for Boeing’s issues description: The America’s Work Force Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Tom Buffenbarger joined us on today’s show. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/AWF-blog-image-template_red_AWF.jpg --- 1 min read Season 5, Episode 62 # A history of mismanagement could be to blame for Boeing’s issues [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) March 26, 2024 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/awf) [IAMAW](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/iamaw) ![AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_AWF](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_AWF.jpg?width=407&height=407&name=AWF-Blogo-Logos-Template-400x400_AWF.jpg)   Guest Name: --- Tom Buffenbarger Guest Website: --- [awfpodcast.com ](http://www.awfpodcast.com)  Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/) [ Twitter](https://twitter.com/) [ YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/) [ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/) Supportive Documents: --- Tom Buffenbarger, an independent labor voice, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his reaction to the tragic events unfolding in Baltimore after a ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge leading to its collapse. Buffenbarger then discussed the history of Boeing’s leadership changes that led to their current situation and how it compares to what he experienced with General Electric. Buffenbarger, who lives approximately 30 miles from Baltimore, talked about the sense of dread as he woke up to news about the tragic events that occurred in the Baltimore Harbor early on March 26. Buffenbarger expressed his concerns for those involved, and said many images in his life will stay with him, but seeing the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse will be stuck with him forever. As news came out about the moves to remove leaders at Boeing, Buffenbarger talked about the company's history, which he believes could have led to the company's current situation. To Buffenbarger, it feels like Boeing has focused more on profitability than safety and customer satisfaction. He pointed to the issues with several Boeing planes as a primary reason for the necessity of the leadership change. Boeing’s situation reminds Buffenbarger of his experience working at General Electric in the 1970s and 80s. GE originally was an entire union operation in the 70s, but due to the influence of Wall Street investors, their union workforce was nearly eliminated, he said. Now he’s seeing the same thing occurring to Boeing and the impact that will have on the several thousand union workers in St. Louis, Philadelphia and Wichita, Kansas. Buffenbarger spent a lot of time working closely with these shops during his time as President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. To hear more from Buffenbarger, please listen to the show above. --- America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues. America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... 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