SEATTLE -- At Flights Pub in Everett, a local bar in the parking lot of a shopping center not far from the Boeing's widebody final assembly line, Machinists could be heard spontaneously chanting "Strike!" venting their frustration over the events of the evening.It had been just over three hours since the IAM leadership and Boeing agreed to a 48-hour extension in negotiations to identify and resolve what vice president for Human Resources and chief Boeing negotiator Doug Kight called the "critical few details" remaining in the contract.
Though as one veteran business reporter asked of Kight at Boeing's 10:45 PM press conference that, "it sound to me like there are probably as many issue as there are union members. What if they come to you with a list a mile long with issues?"
Kight responded:
"At this stage in the process, we've been talking for months and months, hours and hours and hours on all aspects of the contract, all subjects. When you get to this stage in the process you have to narrow the issues. It'll be very, very challenging to make progress if this doesn't occur."
Though, the frustration by union members was not limited to management. The reaction at the IAM lodge meeting halls near Boeing Field captured the sentiment of the membership.The announcement of Boeing's desire to return immediately to the table was met with jubilant cheers, but moments later, the mood turned sour when IAM chief negotiator Mark Blondin informed his membership of the 48-hour extension in negotiations, even with 87% supporting a strike.
"They have 48 hours to bring a deal that's acceptable to you, or it's on," said Blondin.
The announcement was met with very visible displeasure, including comments not suitable for print.
Many machinists were frustrated by what they felt was the IAM not supporting their overwhelming vote to reject Boeing's best and final offer and go on strike.
"We stood in solidarity with them, they didn't stand with us," remarked one Everett-based machinist at Flights Pub.
Amid the frustrations of assembled machinists, Bondin attempted to get a word in edgewise over the loud protests of the machinists:
"We have told you all along that it is our job as negotiators to go to the table and negotiate you a contract that is acceptable to you, not to negotiate a strike."
The following morning, there are indications across many Boeing factories that even without the formal commencement of a strike, jetliner assembly has ground almost to a complete halt. One machinist tells FlightBlogger that "droves" of staff at Renton, site of 737 final assembly, were sent home for inactivity and, "a lot of people didn't go in at all."
Even with the 48-hour extension, many machinists were defiant in the face of both the IAM membership and Boeing.
"I'm on strike," remarked another machinist. "My contract expired yesterday at midnight."
Photo credits: FlightBlogger
on September 4, 2008 7:43 PM | Reply
Geez quit whinging and do some work FFS.
What else do they want for nothing. They're a joke.
on September 4, 2008 11:38 PM | Reply
"I'm on strike. My contract expired yesterday at midnight."
Clearly, this employee is doing a fine job of demonstrating exactly why he or she is worth whatever it is being demanded of Boeing. NOT!!
If this quote is truly representative of the rest of the IAM members' opinions, then I wish Boeing the best because the decisions this will force them to make may not be easy or cheap. Will they choose to pay for these selfish grandstanders or take another look at moving their production to somewhere else (like Texas, as mentioned previously by Another Rick) where people who want to work for Boeing and build their planes would get the chance to do so and excel at it without drama.
As grim a situation as a strike may seem, this may be an excellent opportunity for Boeing to capitalize on the number of people seeking quality, well-paying jobs at the moment who would be grateful for the pay and benefits they are offered. It's time somebody stood up to the unions before the American aviation industry goes too far down the same road as the American automotive industry and many others.
on September 5, 2008 12:59 AM | Reply
Why does Boeing put up with the Unions? Bite the bullet, hire people as individuals and pay them what their skill set is worth. Offer them a 401k (why is that a deal breaker to the union?). If people are so angry at Boeing, leave! I'm a big fan of Boeing and avation in general, imagine what the industry could do without having to deal with this every 3 years. I work at a company that has both union and contract employees, it's amazing how much more the contract folks accomplish (or how much less union members accomplish due to being vastly more difficult to fire).