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Contract Updates
Contract
Update August 31st 2008
As you know, we recommended you reject the Company’s offer and vote yes to strike. This recommendation was made based on going through the contract line by line and really looking at the fine print. We also heard from you through various forums - our on-line surveys, shop floor meetings and input to the web site.
Below the surface of this proposal when you really look closely, there are takeaways riddled throughout. The Company fell far short of your expectations, and these are the reasons we made the recommendation we did.
We have been getting reports throughout the Puget Sound that managers are out in force, as we told you they would be, trying to sell you on this proposal. If it truly is a good proposal, it would sell itself.
Managers are giving misleading and outright wrong information in efforts to confuse our members. This is wrong! It also may be highly illegal, but it just goes to show the lengths this Company will go to. On the $ .40 COLA we have reports that managers are saying that it will be included. This is FALSE. The $.40 cent COLA for the months May, June and July of 2008, one of the highest COLA’s to date, IS NOT included in the Company’s Final Offer.
Unfair Labor Practices are filed against companies for various reasons, one of which is so they cannot fire the workforce and bring in permanent replacements. This has not been an issue because our members are so highly skilled, but nevertheless this is why it is so important to notify us of what managers of the Company are saying to you in their captive audience meetings or one on one. Managers might even pretend to be your friend in an effort to get information from you. This is serious business, brothers and sisters, and we need your help in reporting these unlawful acts by managers. Report any potential violations to ULP@iam751.org
We are so proud of our members for standing up to Boeing and indicating to us they plan to reject the contract and vote yes to strike. It is so critical that every member vote yes to strike even if they vote to accept the offer. If every member doesn’t vote to strike, there is a small possibility we will not receive the 2/3 necessary to call a strike, the contract will be accepted, and there will be no way to bring the Company back to the table. We explained from the onset it was the Company’s strategy to go after 1/3 of our members, and it appears that is exactly what they are doing.
Boeing doesn’t want a strike but they truly believe they can reach that 1/3 with their ill informed public campaign strategy. They still don’t get it and they need to hear your message loud and clear on the shop floor and at the ballot box. Sometimes you need to send a message before they will budge.
We have negotiators available 24 hours a day to sit down with the Company but the ball is in their court. If they want to avoid a work stoppage, then they need to address the issues accordingly.
Check our website daily from now on leading up to the vote. Help send a message to the Company with a resounding YES to strike. Don’t let them back us into a contract when we know they can provide a better offer. Most of the takeaway issues surrounding job security were implemented in 2002 when we could not get a majority to vote to strike. Don’t let a minority of the membership determine our outcome at the bargaining table. Vote YES to strike whether you vote to accept or reject the contract and give negotiators leverage to get a better offer.
We are the Fighting Machinists and we will prevail in the end.
Thank you for your support and let’s win this fight for the future.
It’s Our Time This Time!
In Solidarity
Your Union Negotiating Team