Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Boeing Strike Update

Here's the latest news on the Boeing Strike in Seattle. The IAM Strikers are holding strong and are determined.

Strike Update - October 13, 2008

Statement by IAM District 751 President Tom Wroblewski

The Federal Mediators adjourned talks today between the Machinists Union and the Boeing Company without reaching an agreement. The Union had hoped Boeing would come to the table looking to resolve this strike, which is in its fifth week; however, this was not the case.

The Company is attempting to put the Union in an unacceptable position to bargain away our members' jobs. The Union currently has 2000 members involved in material delivery, inventory, distribution of parts, materials, equipment, etc. Throughout these talks and in earlier statements made by the Company, it has become apparent that the long-term strategy of The Boeing Company is to eliminate these IAM positions and replace the Union workers with outside suppliers. The words "flexibility" and "competitiveness" for Boeing appear to mean eliminating IAM jobs. It is a systematic attack on the employees who have generated unprecedented success for Boeing. If Boeing succeeds in their plan, it is our members' concern this will expand to other jobs in the factory.

The IAM is interested in bargaining a contract for the future, which provides success for Boeing and for our workforce -- but Boeing has a different agenda. We expect to be a part of the future of the Boeing Company and remain committed to achieving a resolution that protects our members and their families.

The fact is our members have bent over backwards for this Company to make them profitable. We have participated in every lean program, new initiative, fixed vendor mistakes and offered alternative ideas - all to make them successful. It is our members who consistently step up and get the job done for Boeing. We will continue to do that, but not at the price of our jobs. The Union will continue to look for ways to resolve this strike so that our members can return to building airplanes and making Boeing record profits, but it cannot be at the price of selling out thousands of our members' jobs.

Keep in mind other top issues are still not resolved, i.e. medical, wages, and pensions.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

What is to say that vought doesn't put us in the same position which unless i read it wrong for boeing is either take or leave it? What will we do then? I for one do not want to lose my job because of these issues. I know ya'll want a better pension for us but is it worth our jobs? For some, I already know the answer, but what about the ones that were prepared to strike, were you also prepared to lose your job over this, I doubt very seriously you were.

Anonymous said...

Well enough is enough,IAM going back to work on monday,see you broke ass people when you get back to work next year! happy holidays!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

its all good now homie broke for now but banking later you go on and f....k up all the sh..t you can now but we will be bakk and your ass will be gone now you have a happy holiday!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Well I for one will not let a company take away my benefits. The only reason we have what few benefits thats left is because the people before us stood up for them. I know comapany people are getting on here just to tell lies.

Anonymous said...

aww enough is enough must be a dayam SCABBB ITS WHATEVER CAUSE ALL THE ONE CROSSING THE LINE R USELESS LOOK IT PIGGG

Anonymous said...

anon,
If you are so broke that you need to go back to work... Can't you find a part time job,or even a full time job... something,anything is better than being a SCAB!!! There is not a whole lot that I wouldn't do to support my family... BUT BEING A SCAB IS NOT ONE OF THEM!!!!
If you are tucking your tail,and running back to Dan,and Maxie this fast then you don't have what it takes to be a member of this Local!
My Brothers,and Sisters have Courage,Faith,Morals,and lets not
forget Backbones...So with this being said,We will see your SORRY SCABBY ASS when you pass all of your former Brothers,and Sisters at the gates with our Pride,and Dignity, something you never had to start with!!! So Happy Holidays to you... you NO GOOD THIEF!!

Anonymous said...

of course people are afraid d,ont post comment like the last two, this is exactly why the company treat us as they do we will not stand up for our self less anyone else and beleive me you are not doing this for no-one but yourself work now, cry later, when the company is laughing at us all God Bless the Union

Anonymous said...

i support the union brothers and sisters at boeing and i respect my union memebers here at 735 ,but honest i dont want to hear about what is going on at boeing, i dont work there i work at vought keep it vought or keep your mouth shut everyone is hurting both sides ,but i be damn if i cross the line and steal from my other members, more word on getting this contract done and less on another company we cant do nothing about , hell how many of them are in the plant working from boeing, but can you go there ,hell no

Anonymous said...

I am saddend and even a little sickend, by the first 2 (Boeing Strike) blogs! Maybe they are posted by scabs who have alredy crosed or are Company (Vought) planted.......becuse these are NOT the Brothers and Sisters that I associate with this STRONG Local! Please read these comments with a grain of salt, your tounge in cheek, then take a Pepto, or Bromide, or induce vomiting!

Skilled IAM 735 Worker......again

Anonymous said...

It seems sad to me that a group of people want to criticaize and call names like third graders! Then try and use GOD as an listener. Even Jesus showed mercy til his earthly death! You had a job. You walked off of your job and if your so worried about someone screwing it up then whats the point. Go find as good as job as you have at Vought and keep your so called pride. See how good it looks on your dinner plate. It seems as though you've cut off your nose to spite your face. If a man provides for his family who are you people to deny him or call him a scab. How pathetic. God has nothing to do with this strike, just a few people who had nothing better to do and wanted to feel important got others riled up. I am proud that I can feed and clothe my children and provide them with a home. I am measured by my own morals and principles and suggest you each take a long look at your selves.

Anonymous said...

alrighty SSSCCCCAAAAAAAAAAB !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

dang some people really have some perseverance dont they, its been only 2 and a half weeks . these scabs have just been living too high on the hog and too green behind the ears . they only care bout their needs instead of our needs. so go ahead crawl back in there and see where that gets ya. hope the door dont hit ya in da butt when you get laid off when they get what they want out the door.

Anonymous said...

did ya think that the boeing deal was going to be all sunshine and roses and that everyone kissed and hugged each other at the end . come on folks its all smoke and mirrors to see whos gonna give first. to the peeps who werent prepared for the strike , did ya think those "ARE YOU READY" shirts were just for shock and awe

Anonymous said...

Company people are posting on this blog pretending to be scabs. Don't play their games. We could block their post if we wanted but their post just gets everyone more fired up. Guess we should thank them.Just keep showing your union pride. Gets them every time!!!

Anonymous said...

I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THE STRIKE, But I can tell you one thing If you don,t stand for something EXAMPLE (Wife, Children,Family and also Extended Family) Then you will fall for what ever the Company tells you,For Example:It,s no fault of your own,But mangement mess up so your bonus has shrunk, But because we admit: That We messed up Our bonus has Increased; But; We would like to Thank you all for your Hard work and Dedication to the Productivty and Safety at Vought and of course Remember!
Our motto One for all,and All for US (THE COMPANY VOUGHT)

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
flapwing said...

ANON SAYS:

It seems sad to me that a group of people want to criticaize and call names like third graders! Then try and use GOD as an listener. Even Jesus showed mercy til his earthly death! You had a job. You walked off of your job and if your so worried about someone screwing it up then whats the point. Go find as good as job as you have at Vought and keep your so called pride. See how good it looks on your dinner plate. It seems as though you've cut off your nose to spite your face. If a man provides for his family who are you people to deny him or call him a scab. How pathetic. God has nothing to do with this strike, just a few people who had nothing better to do and wanted to feel important got others riled up. I am proud that I can feed and clothe my children and provide them with a home. I am measured by my own morals and principles and suggest you each take a long look at your selves.


VERY WELL SAID BUT YOU ARE STILL A FREAKING SCAB!!!!

AND YOU WILL BE GONE IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS ANYWAY SO YOU CAN GO SCAB SOME OTHER PLACE!

:)

Anonymous said...

To Anon,
It seems so sad to you? Well it seems so sad to me that you are a freaking SCAB!!! It's not about name calling it's just stateing the facts! If it looks like a duck,
walks like a duck,quacks like a duck...THEN IT'S A DUCK!!! Same goes for a SCAB... If it looks like a SCAB,and is spineless like a SCAB,and it crosses our picket line like a SCAB...Then it is a SCAB!!! As far as pride goes... Local 735 has pride unlike you,because people that have pride don't scab on jobs,and steal from honest,hard working people...Some of us were prepared for this strike,and don't have to choose between pride,and food on our dinner plates... And as far as you saying GOD has nothing to do with this strike, I guess that is between you,and God...He has been here through it all with me... So do you tell your children that you are a thief as you feed,clothe,and provide a home for them?
Proud Union Member

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

i read these blogs everyday and just can't figure out why the scabs that cross would continue to read and post comments. why would you even care what we write, post or even call you, if you think you have done the right thing for yourself. i know because the guilt you have for betraying your fellow workers and biological family, yes i did say family, as in uncles, aunts, fathers etc is eating you up inside and you think if you try and justify your actions you think it will make you feel better about yourself. well i will tell you that if you have an ounce of a conscious it won't. it breaks my heart to see these men and women trust their family siblings enough to get them a job to be betrayed beyond embarrassment. we all know you have no respect for your family or fellow worker but have respect for yourself and stay off our blog

Anonymous said...

new on vought's web site:

NASHVILLE, OCT. 15, 2008 – Vought Aircraft Industries continues to work its strike contingency plans here by bringing in 200 additional contractors this week. This brings the total to more than 450 experienced contract workers that have been hired to help sustain aircraft subassembly production at the company’s Nashville facility.
In addition, about 200 salaried employees at the plant are assigned to the production floor, and about 80 people from other Vought facilities are onsite to support the Nashville plant.
These actions are all part of Vought's strike contingency plans, designed to mitigate disruption to our operations and minimize impact to our customers

Anonymous said...

My father worked for AVCO approximately 20 years ago and was laid off. Most people in your union would probably claim the rat company didn't care about him. Simple economics though shows that the reason many people lost their job was due to the fact they were overpaid which put a financial strain on the company (and the B-1 contract ended). I'm not saying you're wrong just change how/why you argue. Ask for what's fair not what another company makes or what you previously received. What's fair is determined by how easy it would be for a company to train someone to do your job. The UAW is single handedly responsible for hurting Ford, GM, and Chrysler. They can't compete labor cost wise with the Japanese companies that are also made here. Just be careful not to put your company under and cause lay offs that hurt people even more. Price(aka wages)= what the market bears = where supply and demand meet. In other words if someone else in Nashville will do your job for less the company is fairly renegotiating. Just so you know, the aggressive name calling just makes the union look bad in the press.

Anonymous said...

God has nothing to do with this union. Please be careful combining your efforts with His you may be sinning and not realize it when you do this.

Anonymous said...

You can pretend all you want but there are many things worse than a scab. Striking is fine, but the person that said they would choose to not Scab over supporting their family shows what's wrong with unions. Let's show what's right about our union.

flapwing said...

WOW!!

LOOKS LIKE MORE SMOKE & MIRRORS ON THE VOUGHT WEBSIGHT!

MAYBE I SHOULD SEND OUT A PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCTS COMMING OUT OF THE PLANT AND ALL THE NON ENGLISH SPEAKING SCABS......HMMMMM!

STAND STRONG BROTHERS AND SISTERS
:)

Anonymous said...

Some people would like to know what kind of help can you get from the Union. Don't get me wrong, I would NEVER cross the picket line. Still looking for part time job. Bills are coming due fast. Is there any help? I'm standing strong and will till the end.

flapwing said...

I think we should have a IAM weenee
roast!

Just Curious said...

In a media statement Vought Aircraft Industries continues to work its strike contingency plans here by bringing in 200 additional contractors this week. This brings the total to more than 450 experienced contract workers that have been hired to help sustain aircraft subassembly production at the company’s Nashville facility. Vought seems to be unable to learn from their mistakes they had experienced workers at the plant when they made an attempt to move the work from Nashville. I am not in no way saying the workers at the other plants experience is less than the Nashville but you do not start building on a program today and know everything to know tomorrow and keep up the move rate that is required is impossible without making mistakes and lots of them. I have also been told they have already had to let some of these experienced workers go because they were unable to do the work. Also they are making another attempt at moving the G-400 subassembly to a Vought plant more shortages and mistakes at huge cost from outside venders that hurt the Vought Nashville plant and workers. I say to both sides set down and work it out

Anonymous said...

so the company brings in more scabs to do what sweep the floor paint the wall whatever just more mind games they keep on they the ones gonna loose contracts must be a real smart guy running the show hahha big ass dummy

Anonymous said...

yeah why would a scab cross the line ..... and most of all the one that crossed say they got money they got this but i know one thing they dont got is pride and r worthless in the shop floor this would be a good time for vought to get rid of them

Anonymous said...

hey yal, remember the morning meetings that started with a safety contact everyday. i got one..... how bout the safety of our customers and the lives of all the people in the world flying on these aircraft products that are now being put together by supervisors and contractors and oh yes the dreaded scabs. you can just imagine the final inspector checking these for blue tags and not even knowing how it suppose to look like in the first place. i think that is the greatest safety contact of all peoples lives.... remeber that 2 cent dust cap ....vought.........

Anonymous said...

For those people who cross the line. Take a good hard look at yourself you are selling your soul for 3,000 bucks. Think about it; you are the reason why this company hires managers with a degree in under water basket weaving HAVE PRIDE IN YOUR RESOLVE! I am retired military and I would not want you as one of the captured , because again you would sell your soul! I will eat crap with a napkin before I ever betray my fellow union members. NO I AM NOT THEIR BROTHER. I'M a person that knows how to bend over and help someone up when another person or group is taking advantage of them. STAND YOUR GROUND!!! GROW A PAIR

Anonymous said...

Yeah! if Vought goes under they only have themselves to blame! not us.

Anonymous said...

I am still waiting to hear what we are standing out here for. Has anyone figured out what our proposal is???? I hope I don't get that same bull, we want what Dallas has. Last time I checked we are not
Dallas!!!

Anonymous said...

i am at spirit on a (furlow) 3-day work week due to the boeing strike.i have always been a union memeber.i have been laid-off once before when it was boeing back in 97'. i can't believe how long its taken me to get a job here again. i have almost been here a year last time i got laid-off i was o.k. with it this time i am certain i am going to be pissed off. not good!i have even volunteered to take extra time off in order to buy my job a little more time.someone somewhere needs to pull their skull from their rectum and get this crap on its way to the waste processing plant.i will survive this.but if i lose my job supporting my brothers and sisters across the street i hope they don't forget me this christmas.lets all try to support each other to get through it.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand why these people are crossing the picket line, were we not told on that Saturday when we voted for the contract that we will be prosecuted and fined if we do, I can understand how people can get get desperate, but it's a waste to go in there and work and just give your earnings back to pay the fine, if you are that desperate, there are other jobs out there, quit Vought if you have to and put your resumes and applications elsewhere

communicator said...

The Union Proposal has been explained on this blog and at the union meeting. Weren't you at the union meeting? I personally got up and asked that question for you. Where were you?! This blog is no place to negotiate our contract.

The Union showing its wish list would be like playing a game of cards with all the cards showing.

Your question is a matter of Terminology. What we call the “Company’s Proposal” is simply “where negotiations stalled”. They would be happy with much less and we would be happy with much more.

When you go in to negotiations, you don’t pass proposals across the table and then try to meet somewhere in the middle. You take on each individual issue, one at a time.

"The Last Best and Final” is simply where negotiations stalled. It is only called the Company’s Proposal because this is as far as we have been able to drag them towards an acceptable agreement.
If we state what the Negotiation Committee would be able to recommend, the company would naturally try to work us down from there, just as we are trying to work them up from where negotiation stalled.

Tim Ramsay
IAM local 735
Communicator

Anonymous said...

someone tell me something, a hint, a clue when is negotiations goin to start if i cant get a job or is the union helping members finding jobs anything to keep me from crossing, tell me something ,im not puttin my kids on the street for no company or union, so tell me something call me what you want ,but you`ll never call me a homeless parent that didnt put her child first, unless i can help it,and another thing raise union dues to 3 hrs or 60 even a month so if we strike next time we can get at least 250 a week that will cover most peoples mortgages , thanx