As we
enter the holiday season, our thoughts and prayers surely go out
to our brothers and sisters who were laid off this month, and
of course to those who have received WARN notices. This is a devastating
time for many of our Union families. These layoffs, attributed by the Boeing Company to the September 11th terrorist attack, should not be happening to this degree. Yes, the airlines are struggling and have canceled orders. Yes, the Company has not sold record numbers of aircraft for next year.
However, the Company continues to outsource and offload. Bottom line: they subcontract work that should be performed by members of the Machinist Union right here in the Puget Sound area. If the Boeing Company abided by the contract they signed with the Machinist Union in 1999, many of these layoffs would not be happening. If the Boeing Company showed the same commitment to Boeing workers that it shows to contractors, hundreds, if not thousands of these current layoffs could be avoided. Unfortunately, Boeing seems to be more concerned with the viability of subcontractors than the livelihoods of Boeing workers.
This outright disdain for the very people who helped build the Company into the best aerospace company in the world is unbelievable. When the Company was reaping record profits and delivering record numbers of aircraft, who was working the overtime, making schedule, transferring locations, and improving the manufacturing processes? The answer is pretty simple -- WE WERE. So where is the Company when the Boeing workers need it most? Where is the loyalty to the workforce?
Unions are about good jobs, working conditions, and benefits. We will continue our fight to protect our contractual rights, including filing grievances challenging many of the layoffs. This Union will continue to grieve the injustices that have been brought upon us by Boeing, and at the end of the day we will be successful.
Unfortunately, the wheels of justice turn slow for working people. Companies can violate the very agreements they sign with their workforce, and arbitrations and court cases do not come quickly enough to ease the pain suffered by the aggrieved members. But we will press forward and we will continue to protect the interests of the members of our Union, and we will prevail.
This has been a most difficult year for all of us. But every time an obstacle has come before us, our members have withstood the challenge.
I want to personally thank the membership for the support shown to this leadership throughout the year. Your participation in your Union and the support of the leadership is what makes us stronger than ever.
We have a big year ahead of us, and with some extra effort and hard work from all of us, our day will come. In everything we do throughout next year, we cannot and will not forget about our laid-off and retired members. Have a safe and happy holiday season.