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27,000 Workers at Boeing on Strike |
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A strike at Boeing began today, with some 27,0000 Machinist (IAM) union members in three states now on the picket lines.
Despite extraordinary efforts by the union to reach an agreement with the Boeing Company, says IAM President Thomas Buffenbarger:
The absence of job security language was a key reason why members rejected the company’s earlier offer and it is why Boeing is now facing the second major strike in three years. We’ve learned it’s not enough to have a good-paying job if that job can disappear at any time.
The union bargaining committee has met with Boeing over the past two weeks, including meetings with federal mediators in the hope of reaching a tentative agreement before a midnight Friday deadline. While Boeing has made $13 billion in profits since 2002, union leaders say the aerospace company is refusing to give workers a 40-cent an hour cost of living increase to keep up with inflation. Along with job security, other issues include pensions and health care.
Some 87 percent of the aircraft assembly workers voted to strike after the current contract expired Sept. 3. At the request of federal mediators and Washington State Gov. Chris Gregoire (D), both sides agreed to extend the contract for 48 hours to see if they could reach a pact.
The contract covers about 27000 workers at Boeing plants in Seattle, Gresham, Ore., and Wichita, Kans.
For strike updates from the picket lines, click here.
4 Comments
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This is just to ask what are AFL-CIO prepared to do to support the strike, to help win the strike, through solidarity action?
Thank you.
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Best regards to Boeing IAM workers on strike! Boeing is making a good profit now; they SHOULD be able to meet the IAM demands.
Boeing has 35 media people who are trying to make the IAM workers look like greedy people for not settling for their offer. Boeing emphasizes the bonuses, the wage increase for new hires, etc. but doesn’t tell you that the contract is loaded with higher medical costs that outweigh any bonus and wage increase, and takes away gains made in previous contracts. They brag about what a good contract it is…yes, it is good for Boeing, but not the IAM workers. That is why the IAM has vowed to be on strike for as long as it takes. For more information, check out the IAM website: http://www.iam751.org/contract08_pdf/Hideweb.jpg
I wish to say to the Boing workers you have both my prayers and solidarity! Going on strike in this day of chaos in our economy is courageous!
Secondly I would like to respond to the posts ahead of mine; yes the company is making money. But since when do the bosses use logic to negotiate labor agreements! ( at least not in favor of workers) Boing bosses are no different from bosses in any other industry, they want the big bonuses and huge salaries for themselves! The fact that the company has raked in billions of dollars in profit just means that the bosses want more and more!
Once again I commend the members of the International Association of Machinists for taking the bull by the horns!