In a 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.
Reading Toms statement and local papers, namely the seattlepi I've come to the understanding that the union is fighting for jobs it lost in the 2002 contract language and 2000 delivery jobs. This is why the union won't continue with these talks? Jobs it lost 6 years ago. Instead maybe they should be fighting boeing to be able to have people who have jobs outsourced retrained so they can take a job somewhere else in the company. Now Tom is correct when he says the union members have bent over backwards to help the company with any issues it has.
In a statement issued by Boeing after a second round of mediated talks with the International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers adjourned without an agreement:
"In light of the current business environment and global market challenges we face, we had hoped we could find a way to move forward. We worked very hard to find solutions, and we are extremely disappointed that the talks broke off," said Doug Kight, Boeing vice president of Human Resources. "We want to resolve this strike so employees can return to work, but we cannot sacrifice our ability to continuously improve productivity and our long-term competitiveness for an agreement. Given current economic conditions, it is now more important than ever that we retain the ability to respond to a dynamic, uncertain environment."
No new talks are currently scheduled. Approximately 27,000 employees in Washington, Oregon and Kansas have been on strike since Sept. 6.
Get your asses back to work!
