Boeing Workers Vote To Strike In 2 Days

Machinists Approve 2nd Strike In 3 Years, But Give Management 48 More Hours

(AP)  Boeing Co. aircraft assembly workers voted overwhelming to reject the company's contract offer and strike for an unprecedented second time in three years.

Their walkout was set to begin at 12:01 a.m. Pacific on Thursday but was put on hold after their expiring contract - covering more than 27,000 workers - was extended 48 hours at the request of Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and a federal mediator.

Machinists District Lodge 751 President Tom Wroblewski and chief machinists' negotiator Mark Blondin said, however, that if Boeing doesn't come back with an acceptable deal within 48 hours, the strike is on.

The vote late Wednesday was 87 percent in favor of a strike as unanimously recommended by machinists' union negotiators. Under union rules, a strike requires at least two-thirds support from those voting.

In separate balloting, union members also voted 80 percent to reject Boeing's third and final three-year contract offer, which included pay raises averaging 11 percent.

Boeing's three-year "best and final" offer included bonuses totaling at least $5,000, raises averaging 11 percent, pension increases and a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment - $34,000 in average pay and benefit gains per employee, according to the company.

[michaelm07]

Fire them and hire people who haven''t lost sight of what a good job with a secure company is. Judging from the photos these guys are little overfed anyway.

[lewiston14]

After reading the company offer $34,000 in average pay and benefit gains per employee, In a US company today that seems like a pretty good offer. Don''t be surprized if the company just closes shop here and moves. Dambui would be thrilled to have the Boing plants there. Dambui would probably build all the new buildings for free.

[haoli25]

I am already playing my tiny violin for them.

[gunfighter51]

And they blame Bush for all the jobs going overseas, including aircraft manufacturing.
When is it going to sink in to the unions that they are self defeating in there actions.
Enjoy your vacation.

[dlockaby]

My (ex)husband worked for Boeing during the strike in the late 80s. I have been ANTI union since then (because of them). Not only was the strike BS, they knew how long it would last BEFORE it started (before the vote). They will strike, I promise. And to any worker''s that decide to cross the picket line and work to feed your family, I applaud you. Stand strong.

It''s political. That union does NOT care about it''s workers. They received their pay while were were standing in the line at food banks to feed our two small children. The economy in the area is DRIVEN by Boeing. We were always told, if you work for Boeing, you have a key to the city. In the age of Bush, the last things these families need is a strike. Trust me, they get paid well!!!! and the Benefits are outstanding.

THINK PEOPLE!!!!

[naogirl8]

THE REST OF THE STORY before passing judgement. Average $34,000.00 that is a joke. I work with a coworker who makes $24,000.00 anually,
not including out of pocket medical for him and his family.How do you dare to shake a finger at boeing employees who has to work in hazardous conditions.Why not ask for a better pension? You do the math and tell me how long you have to work to bring home $1500 to $2000 a month being paid a pension of $60 for each year of service. Tell me we don''t have the right to ask this company not to take away our surviving spouse and childrens right to be able to collect what we have worked so hard for in the event that we die.We are talking about a company with a profit of 13 billion dollars in the last 5 years who mind you was made possible by the SPEEA and IAM workers. Tell me that we don''t have the right to a measly $100 per year of service pension when they can pay low end scale excecutives $400 per year of service and high end excecutives $4000 per year of service. That is not to mention them paying executives 43 million just to come on board but pay hardworking laborers coming into the company less then $10 an hour so please before you pass judgement on the Boeing employees do your homework. Oh!! and as far as the job security, don''t believe the hipe, Boeing is already sending work over seas, it''s coming back because it is not getting done right.

[ug_boy]

Dear naogirl8,
Read a little closer - It''s a $34k pay INCREASE over 3 years. And for the part of hard workers, please give me a break. I contracted to Boeing and have seen workers sleeping in the fuselages while getting paid OT. Many of the workers are lazy SOB''s - my opinion is Boeing should move operations to places where people want work - Kansas, Nebraska, Carolina''s, anc the like. Let the whiny little union *** in Seattle drink their coffee and cry that $120k (base pay + voluntary OT -the sleeping on the job thing) for an assembly job wasn''t enough.

[blogthis1]

Screw the workers! Send the work overseas. With unions it''s never enough till they drive the company into the ground with demands.

[blogthis1]

I''m with you ug_boy..... move the company near me and I''ll gladly work for Boeing.

[docnannie]

Unions have become the hiding places for the lazy and worthless, as well as the scourge of the earth.

[mjvw2]

know someone who works for Boeing. He carries 50 lb trays of metal parts up three story metal stairways and empties huge rolling containers of heavy metal parts in between trips up to the planes. This is backbreaking work, with supervisors on deadlines hanging over his head, if he stops to get a drink or recoup his energy. He comes home filthy and depleted. If you work for Boeing, you need your union representation and your pension, because they have employees whose sole job is to get rid of anyone they work to the ground, and who can''''t do the heavy manual labor any longer.

Posted by httpwwwnews

and now he''ll be out of work and ******** that his unemployment check isn''t big enough

[prolegomena]

This was the best deal in the aerospace industry. There is nothing comparable to it anywhere in the nation. This strike vote is insane... the union leaders have whipped up our people into a frenzy, fed them false data, and are now leading the lemmings over the cliff. So very, very sad.

[yellow651]

Hey. you guys don''t think you make enough at Boeing? I''ll take your current contract and you can have mine. You guys are the highest paid in the industry and all you are going to do with this stupid strike is cripple the company that takes care of you. They are laughing in France.

[mawskrat]

I support my union brother and sisters....IUOE
a scab is a nasty thing

[whatever091]

ok people.
boeing made 14 BILLION AND THEY WANT TO GIVE

[mawskrat]

airbus is not without it''s problems with IG Metall union and with the euro so high Boeing will benefit from higher sales

[mawskrat]

BlogThis1....there is a name for people like you

[whatever091]

SORRY LETS START AGAIN. BOEING MADE 14BILLION AND WANT TO GIVE WHAT COMES OUT TO 900MILLION TO 27.000 PEOPLE PLUS. now over the life of the contract that would make people barly break even. and with cost of living going up and gas ect. and with the 13bill boeing will pocket, that is not fair. now if the union were to break apart, that would leave all you people making min wage in a world of you know what, because if other smaller companies saw that they would treat their people the same way and try to get over on you. and by the way if you could get more money wouldnt you??!! and for those saying they would gladly work at boeing and take whatever they are offering wich by the way new heirs get somewhere between 10-14 an hour start out...go get an app and see if they will heir you. or YOU QUIT YOUR WHINNING.

[whatever091]

BLAH BLAH BLAH.

[whatever091]

I THINK YOU SHOULD SEE A SRINK, THOSE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD ARE GETTING LOUDER. BUT YOU WILL BE OK.

[mawskrat]

why some folks want to drag others down instead of trying to lift themselves up is what I don''t get

[whatever091]

SO LETS LET THE UNION STAY? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? I MEAN IF THEY WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY LETS LIFT THEM UP, CUZ THAT MEANS THEY WOULD BE SPENDING MORE AND THAT WHAT WE NEED.

[mawskrat]

labor negotiations are one big game,we will see who flinches first.lol

[chatmandu002]

The unions will be the death of businesses. And if the democrats take over the government the unions will be even more in control.

[im_4_wwjd]

The unions will be the death of businesses. And if the democrats take over the government the unions will be even more in control.

Posted by chatmandu002 at 01:51 PM : Sep 04, 2008
_____________________
Yes the unions are partly to blame, BUT the CEOs with their multimillion $$ salaries share at least equal, if not more fault. The suits havew been taking and taking and sending overseas more and more; and for what? To show their shareholders more dividend and themselves more pocket $$, new ring for wifey, larger house, and lavish gifts for their spoiled kids and grandkids.

It would be different if they were giving the extra $$ to the homless shelter or soup kitchens to help support thoise they have put out of work, But they don''t.

Think of this for a minute: for each $1M a CEO gets for compensation he/she could hire 20 people for say $40K each and still have $200K to cover the costs of insurance and pensions a year. Do the math and consider each CEO in America making over $4M per year reducing his pay to $1M. Corporate America giving up the luxury boxes at the sports arenas, naming stadiums, corporate air and travel business or commercial.

I think the union workers should have accepted the boeing contract, it does sound profitable for them.

[im_4_wwjd]

God says its time to bust the unions!

Posted by gophockeymom at 11:40 AM : Sep 04, 2008
________________
Actually gop_forever, I believe it was Ronald Reagan''s idea first.

[lewiston14]

Want to know something I hope they ship every company off shore Then we dont have to worry about paying anybody, tax, nothing. US wants US gets we all get that welfare check

[whatever091]

come on people think. who holds boeing accountable for their ways?..the people do if there were no union we would be losing more money in the economy and if we ship it over seas we lose more but boeing makes more well atleast the ceo''s do. and like i said before, if it were not for the union we would all be making less and that includes you. good way to look at it is if your company was wanting to ship your job over seas or take pensions or health care away from you...basically take money from your hand and keep it in their hand, you would say "they should just ship my job over seas"??? or "those people should quit gripping they get paid good (meaning you)", and if you tried to fight for your job and more money ect. you would say "break those unions"...wait they dont have one so the company can do what ever they want to you.???...boeing has its place and so do unions. and not one of them is perfect. so we need to keep both in check.

[naogirl8]

All these people talking about you would gladly take the job at Boeing and work the contract that is on the table do like whatever091 said and get an app and go for it. How can you do the job if you can''t even fill out an application. I say until you walk in our shoes you need to stop flapping you jaws.

[whatever091]

now thats what im talking about