Boeing machinists remain on strike after talks fail

[chimx]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/business/14boeing.html?ref=business

Nearly 30,000 workers remain on strike with Boeing. The union and Boeing had got together this past weekend to try to negotiate a new contract again. Apparently talks fell apart when both sides hit a wall over the issues of outsourcing and utilizing union labor for the transportation of goods between Boeing factories.

[chimx]

Here's a better article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008262041_apboeingmachinists3rdldwritethru.html

[DiaMat86]

There is an even better one in the latest CHALLENGE:

www.plp.org

[chimx]

I'm glad you resurrected this thread. Machinists are preparing to vote on a new contract proposal that is probably going to pass. Some gains were made over the original contract that Boeing had prepared, but they were not nearly as large as some were hoping considering the record profits Boeing has been seeing as of lately.

[Patchd]

Good on the Boeing workers who remained on strike, now all they have to realise is that their union leaders are full of crap and they should begin to lead themselves if they want actual gains.

[BIG BROTHER]

So is the strike still going on?

[chimx]

The union just voted to accept the contract, so no, the strike is over.

[KC]

What were the gains that they achieved and what were their demands?

[chimx]

The new contract provides:

- A 15 percent wage increase over four years, as follows: 5 percent in year one, 3 percent in years two and three, and 4 percent in year four. The original contract that was rejected was a 11 percent increase over 3 years. Basically won 4 percent in the final year. (but now they have a contract that is longer, which some view as being negative)

- The pension multiplier, currently $70, would be raised to $81 for each year of service in the first three years, and to $83 in year four. Boeing's original offer was a flat $80 I believe.

- On job security, Boeing retains the ability to have outside vendors deliver parts to the factories, but once they're in the factory, Machinists deliver them to the planes. The 787 program remains the same, with the company New Breed Logistics still delivering parts to the plane.

- Also newer employees are going to receive larger raises. One concern was that it was hard for younger machinists to keep their jobs on lower wages and still support a family, so they will be seeing an extra dollar or two on their paychecks I believe.

- Also important was medical benefits for early retirees, which I believe they are keeping.