Members Build Momentum As Negotiations Progress

by Mark Blondin, District President

The events of the past month have surely given us the momentum we needed going into our most critical negotiations ever. Our Membership Appreciation Fair at the Monroe Fairgrounds was a fantastic event and a great success. The IAM Fair was attended by tens of thousands of Union members and their families. It was apparent that everyone had a good time. We need to do this kind of stuff more often. It was nice to see so many members and to meet your families.

Credit for the success of the Fair should be given to the organizing committee and the more than 200 Shop Stewards, Lodge Officers, and Members who volunteered for the event and whose efforts made it a fun and safe event for everyone. Thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication in planning and running this worthwhile event.

Within days after the fair, we held our Strike Sanction meeting at Seattle Center Memorial Stadium. The best thing about this event was the large turnout and enthusiastic response. The power and solidarity that our membership projected was felt by the Negotiating Team, and I guarantee you that Boeing feels it, as well. We not only have ourselves for support, but we also have the support of our Community Leaders and Elected officials. That support is so important. We have their support because we are right on the issues. What we are bargaining for is our futures. We are bargaining for the future of our communities.

This week we are holding community outreach meetings with elected officials, community leaders and labor leaders to update them on negotiations and educate them on what is at stake in these negotiations. This face-to-face contact is critical to ensure they stand united with us throughout this process.

The fact is we are right on the issues. We are right to demand a secure job, and we are right to demand respect in retirement. Those aren't the only issues. Health care and overtime issues are just a couple of other priorities for the upcoming contract. We will fight the good fight. However, if the last, best and final offer from the Boeing Company does not assure jobs for our membership, and if it does not include a dignified retirement and good medical benefits, then we will be right to take appropriate action. And we will be prepared. I guarantee you that our Defense Committee has been busy.

Boeing can avoid a labor dispute with a fair contract offer. We continue to relay that message in our talks, but we also continue to warn Boeing that their final offer must satisfy our demands. Your Negotiating Committee is working hard in our talks with the Company Officials. We are meeting regularly and will be meeting daily starting on August 5th. The talks will continue through August 27th when we receive the last, best, and final offer from Boeing.

I will keep the membership as informed as possible throughout this process, and thank you for your continued support. We will have weekly update flyers the first two weeks of August and issue daily updates when round-the-clock sessions begin.

Finally, I hope to see all of you at the rally on August 25th to show Boeing again that we stand united.