|
|
 |
|
Boeing Machinists: We're fighting for the middle class
Posted
at
3:15 pm
by Michelle Dunlop
Leaders for the Boeing Machinists union today posted a lengthy explanation about why contract talks broke down with the company this week.
Based on the length and voracity of the message, I’m betting the union got a lot of phone calls/e-mails over the breakdown in talks.
The union and Boeing failed Monday to reach an agreement after renewing talks for the first time in more than a month. At that point, the union said Boeing wanted to eliminate 2,000 Machinists positions – mostly in materials and inventory handling.
Yesterday, Boeing swung back at the union saying the company wants to make process improvements by introducing new technologies. The company had said it wouldn’t get rid of those 2,000 jobs through next three years of a contract. But Boeing stressed that it needs to improve productivity to remain competitive.
Here’s an excerpt from the union’s message today:
This is not just about these 2,000 or so jobs. If Boeing replaces these jobs inside the factory, the chances are even greater that they will chip away until they have replaced all our jobs with vendors. Vendors will want to install the interiors they deliver. The landing gear suppliers will want to do their own installation. Vendors will want to hang the engines. Where would it stop? We have had facilities subcontractors inside the Boeing gates for their entire career. This is wrong, and the time to stop vendors from expanding their scope inside the Boeing gates is now. This is not just about parts handlers, but all our jobs. It is union busting - plain and simple. …
Also keep in mind the 787 is seriously behind schedule due to mismanagement and a flawed strategy of outsourcing to subcontractors around the world who could not deliver on time, with properly manufactured and engineered parts -- something current Boeing employees, our members, have always delivered. This loss of control of the final product caused the delays and is a "direct result" of management decisions -- not the IAM workforce. …
This fight is not just for the benefit of the union workers of the Boeing Company. It is a fight for the middle class and maintaining this middle class for years to come.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Return to Aerospace Blog |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map