As I
complete my first year in office as your President, I want to
thank you, the members. It has been a privilege to serve. Yes,
it has been a difficult year for us, but without your support
and dedication, we could not have accomplished what we have.
Every day we see first hand how solidarity works - enforcing
the contract, winning grievances, in political action, assisting
members, helping the community, and preparing for negotiations.
Looking ahead at the coming year, we have a lot to accomplish,
but we will succeed by standing together.Boeing is continuing with their plan to layoff 30 percent of the commercial workforce. Members of our Union and their families have been hit hard. But our day will come.
The Union continues to move forward on the arbitration cases challenging Boeing's offload of hourly work and the resulting layoff of our members. We have the first arbitration dates scheduled in early March and continue gathering documentation in this very important case. The issue is also being appealed in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; however, to date, no ruling has been made.
I have petitioned the Department of Labor (DOL) on your behalf, for Trade Adjustment Assistance. If successful, our laid-off members will be eligible for extended unemployment benefits and educational assistance. In my talks with the DOL, I have been told that we will have a decision in the next few weeks.
We are also working with the employment security department and WSLC in applying for National Reserve Grant funding. This will benefit our members, as well as all workers in Washington State, who are being adversely impacted by the attack of September 11.
We remain in constant contact with both state and federal officials. On the federal level, we continue to push for assistance for members getting laid-off. We need a package from Congress that helps workers, not just corporations. When Japan announced they may get some 767 assembly work, this Union and the Washington Congressional delegation and Senators immediately voiced their objections - noting that the biggest order in Boeing history is paid for by U.S. taxpayers and the work should be performed here in the U.S. Boeing quickly retreated and clarified none of the 767 work would go to Japan. This is one of the best examples of why this country needs an industrial policy. Laws should reward companies for keeping jobs in this country rather than giving them tax breaks and incentives to export American manufacturing jobs.
In Olympia, we are working with Boeing to make this state a more competitive business environment. I testified along with Boeing Commercial CEO Alan Mulally on the importance of addressing transportation, tax, education and regulatory issues. We are also continuing to push for additional state benefits for any members who may get laid-off.
We are preparing for negotiations. Job security and pensions were identified in our fall survey as your #1 concerns. Union Stewards have been trained on a proposal to increase pension benefits for our members. They should be talking about the union strategy on the shop floor and explaining the numbers. Knowledge is power, so arm yourself with information. A copy of the presentation is available on our web page www.iam751.org. Additional information is coming.
Our second contract survey will be distributed by Stewards the first week of February. We need every member to participate to ensure the proposal we present at the bargaining table accurately represents your issues and concerns.
To succeed at the table, we need every member to be involved - in surveys, talking issues on the shop floor, attending Union meetings, participating in rallies and other events.
Our negotiating committees are meeting to assess problem areas in the contract and address them in negotiations. While much of the language may seem insignificant, it can have a tremendous impact during times of surplus (i.e. bump back rights and recall rights).
Finally, in preparing the Union's 2002 budget, we had to make some very tough decisions. I have worked closely with Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Spalding going over the budget, trimming unnecessary expenses, and assessing our finances. Your District Council has been very responsible in their duties. Our financial structure and reserve funds are very strong. It will remain healthy as we enter this contract year. Being fiscally responsible means living within a budget. In the end, because of declining membership, the only way to live within the budget was to reduce staff. These are hard decisions to make because each person is not only an employee, but a friend to our Union. These are hard-working people that have been dedicated to our Union. As we succeed, and our members return to work, I will rehire these hardworking individuals. In the meantime, I have added responsibilities to Business Reps and other Staff, so that the service to you, our members, will not be diminished.
We will get through these turbulent times, and our laid off members will return. Let's stay united and strong during this contract year for the working members, for the retired members, and for our laid-off members.