Be there to send a message. Our
message. A clear message to the Company. This is our Company,
our contract, and our time to make a change. A change in the fundamental
direction of this Boeing Company. It is time to stop the layoffs.
It is time to stop the subcontracting, offloading, and offsetting
of OUR work. It is time to show commitment and respect to the
Machinist Union workforce, and it is time to include this Machinist
Union workforce in the future growth of the Boeing Company. It
is time to give the pension fund to the participants who negotiated
its very existence. It is OUR time. Be there, cast your vote,
and give your Negotiating team your support, and let's go get
what is ours. I recently attended the World Aerospace Conference of the International Metalworker Federation (IMF) of which our Union is a member. The IMF represents the collective interests of over 25 million members of 207 Unions in 99 countries worldwide. The President of the IMF Aerospace Department is IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. At this Conference, aerospace workers from around the world were represented by Union leaders from USA, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Brazil, Japan, Canada, and Sweden. The role of the IMF is to lay the groundwork for cooperation between workers in our industry and to figure out common strategies for the challenges today and in the future. Workers from the above mentioned countries have the same problems and concerns that we do. I heard delegates from around the world report on issues that are identical to ours. Companies subcontracting work. Companies taking advantage of 9/11. Companies pitting workers from one country against another. Downsizing. Companies like Airbus and Boeing - in a race to the bottom. A race to see who can find the cheapest labor first. A race to the bottom with no regard for human rights, safety, or environment. Did I forget to mention loyalty to the very workforce, communities, and families who built these aerospace companies? Not at all.
The delegates at the conference were unanimous in concern for this issue. All of the delegates spoke of the need to protect respectful and sustainable economies in the countries they lived in. Everyone agreed of the need to maintain high-skilled, well paid, and long-term jobs. I did get the opportunity at the Conference to hear from the President and CEO of Airbus, Noel Forgeard. He made mention that if an aerospace company subcontracts too much, that aerospace company loses control of the quality of the product. Interesting observation. How long have we been saying that?
The goal of the IMF is to safeguard and protect jobs. We made some important commitments at the conference. One was the agreement to form a working group consisting of delegates from Unions representing Boeing and Airbus in North America and Europe. The task of this group will be to coordinate and communicate in an effort to develop common strategies and positions. Let's face it - Airbus and Boeing talk. They have a common strategy. We, as workers, must unite with a common agenda if we are to save this industry for our members and for the generations of workers to follow. I will keep you informed as progress is made.
Right now though, our top priority is Contract 2002. I want to thank all active, laid-off, and retired members for everything that you do every day. Continue to send our message, stay strong, and support each other. We have all been here before, and I believe our solidarity, experience, hard work and commitment to each other is what will deliver a contract which satisfies all of our issues.