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Boeing workers poised to strike
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by Tina Kells | September 5, 2008 at 01:24 pm
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Boeing Co. and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the machinist union, are at a stalemate in current talks, and the union executive is warning members to be prepared to strike as early as Saturday. Attempts to reach a new contract appeared to be failing late Thursday, and the union issued a 48 hour strike-position warning to Boeing.
The vast majority of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' (IAM) 27,000 members voted to reject Boeing's "best and final" offer on Wednesday, but postponed a strike for 48 hours to give negotiators more time.
"Until further notice, plan to be on strike on Saturday at 12:01 a.m. September 6th," said the latest posting on the IAM's website. "If no adequate offer is presented, your vote already cast for strike authorization stands."
Boeing and IAM negotiators, along with federal mediators, are meeting in a hotel in Orlando, Florida, where the IAM is set to have its convention, held every four years, from Sunday.
Representatives of both sides declined to comment on the progress of the negotiations.
If an agreement can not be reached by midnight Saturday the union will walk off the job. A long strike would criple the company, bringing plants in Everett and Renton, Washington, to a standstill, and halting production of its 737, 747, 767, 777 and 787 planes.
Last year Boeing made $4.1 billion in profit and would be able to survive a short work stoppage, but it could spell doom for the new 787 Dreamliner plane. The Dreamliner is already behind schedule and any strike by machinist could push it outside of profitability projections.
There is a possibility that the union will grant Boeing an extension beyond Saturday, midnight. Representatives from both sides have refused further comment.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 13:28 on September 5th, 2008
Tina Kells, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:34 on September 5th, 2008
The union heads are the ones who want more. The benefits all go through their organiztion. They get cash in their pockets. In the 70's the UAW spent 1 dollar for every 4 they got for health care. The rest was siphoned off.