WASHINTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5) announced on Friday that the U.S. Army will renew and extend the production of its Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. This decision safeguards approximately 4,000 existing jobs and is set to create additional well-paid union positions in Delaware County.
The Chinooks, indispensable to U.S. military operations worldwide, are produced at Boeing’s Ridley Park facility, an employment hub for generations of Delaware County workers.
“The people of Delaware County have served their country for generations by manufacturing the Army’s sole heavy lift helicopter,” said Senator Casey. “The Army’s renewed commitment to manufacturing Chinooks in Delco means that good-paying union jobs are here to stay in Southeastern Pennsylvania.”
This announcement marks a reversal from the previous administration, which had left the Ridley Park facility and its workers in uncertainty in 2019. Both Senator Casey and Representative Scanlon have tirelessly advocated for the facility, championing its importance to both the local economy and the nation’s defense capabilities.
Rep. Scanlon shared her elation over the Army’s decision, stating, “For decades, Chinook production has been a critical regional economic engine, with multiple generations of families working at the Ridley Park facility. With this decision, that tradition will continue.”
The impact of this decision extends beyond Ridley Park, securing the future of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1069, whose members contribute significantly to Chinook production. UAW Local 1069 Committeeman James Rugh expressed his gratitude to Senator Casey and Representative Scanlon, emphasizing the significance of this decision for the Boeing Ridley Park workforce.
Since 2007, Senator Casey has been a vocal advocate for the Ridley Park facility and its workforce. Representative Scanlon joined this advocacy upon entering Congress in 2019, working diligently to reverse the previous administration’s decision to cut Chinook modernization.
The renewal of the Chinook production follows concerted efforts by Senator Casey and Representative Scanlon, who managed to secure nearly $1 billion for continued Chinook procurement over the past four years. The first Block II Chinook, a testament to these efforts, rolled off the assembly line in Ridley Park in March 2023.
The Army’s decision to move the Chinook CH-47F Block II into production signifies a momentous win for Ridley Park and Southeastern Pennsylvania. It not only ensures the survival of a key component of the defense industrial base but also guarantees job security for the hardworking men and women contributing to our nation’s defense.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and Microsoft Start.