Previous Contract Updates

Click here for pdf version of rally information - Click Here for a Web version
It's Our Time This Time - Attend the Final Countdown Rally on Sunday, August 24th at 12:30 pm. Meet in the DoubleTree Hotel parking lot (18740 International Blvd, SeaTac). Let Boeing know we are serious about making improvements in ALL areas of the contract.

Union members and their families join Union negotiators to march from the DoubleTree Hotel to Angle Lake Park. Members will hear up-to-date information from the bargaining table and get first hand reports so you can make an informed decision on September 3rd!

Contract Update August 20th 2008

Incentive Plan Proposal
The Company is just not getting it. The recent announcement of an Incentive Pay Plan and the Proposed Letter of Understanding submitted by the Company has more holes in it than swiss cheese. It is an absolute insult to the very people who make their record profits for them.

Once again Boeing wants to separate us from all the other pay codes and not offer you the Employee Incentive Plan they already have that is measurable and has proven it pays out. They are giving no hint about what would trigger a payout to you, only that they will base it on their “Financial Performance” and “Cost”, yet the LOU says they don’t have to share ANY of that information with us. Also The Board of Directors has the right to amend, modify or terminate the Incentive Plan. Worst of all, they are proposing to use how many work place injuries you report as a measure. This could be a violation of state law concerning the practice of claim suppression. They won’t buy your crew a pizza based on your safety record for fear of driving claims underground, but they will pay you a bonus for not reporting when you get hurt at work? If they have been preaching “transparency” throughout these negotiations, show us the fine print so we can make an educated decision. Tell the Company you expect better than this.

Rally’s in the Shop
Wow…we get reports of what’s going on at lunchtime rallies and it sure is helping. With just a short time to go before the end of this contract, you are doing a great job. We’ll see you at the Hotel on Sunday August 24th at 12:30 for the “Final Countdown Rally”.

Psychological Influence
As you may have already figured out, it appears from the Company tactics, they are using the psychological bait and switch of a used car salesperson. Make an unacceptable offer in the beginning and later come back with a mediocre offer and trick you into accepting it as a good deal. It isn’t until you read the fine print that you realize; it wasn’t such a good deal after all. We have faith in the membership to see through this tactic. The Company has vast resources to buy some of the best in the business at playing with your mind and although psychology might work on others, we are the Fighting Machinists and it will not work on us.

The Company needs to quit playing their games and start seriously addressing your issues.

News Media
We got reports the Company may attempt to use the media as their flyer campaign. They will use the media to sell you on their contract proposal and put pressure on your family, friends and the community to sway your vote on September 3rd. Keep in mind, our members at The Boeing Company not only set the standard for a contract to follow in all of the Aerospace Industry, but the standard for our community, as well.

Record profits have been made by this Company with your current wages and benefits. By recognizing your role in making those profits possible they should now improve those wages and benefits and keep our community moving forward. We must stay focused on the mission to make improvements in this contract and help bring up all working people and maintain the middle class. Many before us did this and it is our responsibility to continue the mission.

Company commitment
Although the Company has committed to provide their last, best and final offer on Thursday the 28th of August, we want you to know that we are willing to negotiate for as long as it takes to get a contract we can recommend. If that means we bargain up to midnight September 3rd, that is what we will do. We believe if the company follows through by releasing their proposal that early, it takes away too much time from the negotiating process. This gives the Company almost a full week to sell you on what may be a mediocre deal. You will be able to count on your manager working full time to convince you to buy it but read the fine print!

It’s Our Time!

In Solidarity

Your Union Negotiating Team