HeraldNet: Boeing Machinists: Welcome to McNerneyville



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Aerospace Blog

October 11, 2008

Boeing Machinists: Welcome to McNerneyville

Posted at 11:42 am by Michelle Dunlop

Leaders for the Boeing Co. and the Machinists are expected to meet this weekend to try to end the labor strike, now in its 36th day.

Meanwhile, union members on the picket lines are poking fun at Boeing executives. At the strike gate outside the Boeing office towers in Everett, the Machinists have put up a handwritten sign: "Welcome to McNerneyville!"

The union is naming the gate after Boeing's chief executive, Jim McNerney, much like homeless advocates recently named their pink tent city Nickelsville after Seattle mayor Greg Nickels.

The Machinists also named a couple other gates "Kight Acres" after Boeing lead negotiator Doug Kight. And the gate down by the morgue here in Everett bears the name "Carson Heights" after Scott Carson, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

I'll have photos for you later in the day.

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(No heading)
Lets all hope that the negotiations go well or I am sure Boeing will see a lot of union members looking for other jobs and saying good bye to Boeing for good.

Most dedicated union members would rather quit than cross the line. Its a hard thing to understand for those that have never been part of a union but it all boils down to having integrity and being committed to help your fellow union brothers and sisters. Those that make negative comments about unions are usually those that would or have crossed a line before.

I think both sides need to meet in the middle and realize that it is impossible and not practical to get everything one asks for. Out sourcing is an issue that needs serious consideration but it is also not practical to think that a company can cancel contracts that were already put in place before the negotiations or have been allowed by a union for a long period of time.

Boeing does need to lay its cards on the table with the union and tell them how far they plan to go with the out sourcing so that employees can make a conscience decision to work for a company that wants to out source jobs or not.

If a person is aware that a company is out sourcing work when they accept a job, then it should be a reasonable expectation that the company would continue that out sourcing. The issue an employee has to watch for is if the out sourcing was specified in a contract or LOU. If it has not been specifically addressed then you approach it at negotiation time. If the union has not addressed the issue with a grievance process or ULP, then most likely the arbitrator/mediator will consider the issue a past practice and possibly rule in favor of the company.

The best advise is to review past labor law cases to see if a ruling has been previously obtained on the issue and understand how mediators and arbitrators work before asking for something that isn't worth asking for or striking for. Don't get me wrong, I do not support out sourcing and never will, but that fact is it is how a lot companies make their profit today in order to survive and make a profit.
L. Haggen | Oct 12, 2008 2:05 pm | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

Unions Downfall of Society
It is very sad for me to see the union continuing with this strike. They are supposedly doing this in the name of job security and to ensure Boeing does not continue to outsource labor. However,do they realize that in preventing Boeing from completing the manufacture of jets that they are costing those at other companies their jobs? There are so many companies that provide services and JOBS that are necessary for aircraft manufacturing. This strike is spiteful and hurts many. Keep it up and Boeing (as well as other American companies) may just move its entire operation overseas. Unions and behavior such as strikes will do nothing but cost jobs in the end by encouraging companies to move to less hostile areas. Thanks Machinists for helping to ruin a great American company.
Jonathan Sharr | Oct 11, 2008 9:12 pm | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

Once again
Corporate greed that has touched every segment of society is being lauded, while the workers are blamed for the strike they caused!

At what point will America say enough is enough and start holding these executives accountable? When they make obscene amounts of money, while constantly harping on how they have to cut costs (labor being only 3-4% of the cost of a plane), they're veiled threats ring hollow and frankly, they should probably be investigated for the way they calculated and ended w/ major stock dividends, only to have the stock drop when it comes time to "share" with the rank and file.

We all want to go back to work, heck, we never wanted to leave, but until someone is truthful about how those wage increases will be eaten up by the increased costs of medical and the losses to pensions, nothing changes...
CC At the Big B | Oct 11, 2008 4:58 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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