Boeing, Machinists Talks Move To Florida
Boeing, Machinists Talks Move To Florida Save Email Print
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Unless talks in Florida result in an agreement,
members of the Boeing Machinists union are poised to strike early
tomorrow when a 48-hour contract extension expires.

The contract affects 25,000 aircraft workers in the Puget Sound
area, about 700 in Wichita and the rest in Portland.

Workers voted this week to reject Boeing's offer and go on
strike, mainly over job security. Union leaders agreed to the
extension at the request of the Washington governor.

Seattle papers report negotiators went to Florida to meet with a
top union official who is attending a conference in Lake Buena
Vista.

Although Boeing's Wichita defense plant only employs about 700
machinists, a strike would affect Boeing suppliers -- particularly
companies like Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems.

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Posted by: Frank Location: Formerly Wichita, Now Seattle on Sep 6, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Sure Leslie, keep blaming me for a job you hate making well under $10 per hour keep burying your head in the sand and just ACCEPT your lot in life..don't try to make it any better and just take what they give you and blame someone else who does not. Let's keep burying our heads as the middle class continues to shrink and the rich get richer.Lets blame each other for CORPORATE outsourcing.That makes sense. Come to Seattle- Boeing just hired 4000 people and they are going to hire more when this is over! So come get your benefits.
Posted by: leslie Location: wichita on Sep 5, 2008 at 10:05 PM
I dont know what the deal is with boeing, spirit, cessna or any other airplane manufaturer machinist emploee. you guys are the highest paid people in wichita (under government paid officials) making from 12.00 an hour up getting the benefits you are me and a whole lot of other people I know are just baffled because we want a chance at a job like that so they can fire you babies alot of us make well under 10.00 an hour and we are able to make that stretch for two or more weeks and thats without benefits at all alot of us (POOR) people have said we would be happy to work out there for $10.00 an hour with out benefits so maybe the company can downsize some of you whiners. I personally get tired of hereing on the news you people going on strike because they hurt your feeling or didnt give you what you wanted. poor babies did any of you stop to think at least you have a job and a roof and a car and all that other stuff you complaining about cause from were i sit you dont care about that
Posted by: Frank Location: Formerly Wichita, Now Seattle on Sep 5, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Outsourcing and Corporate Greed killed American jobs, not labor unions. And actually Nurses in California went on strike in 2005 and again in 2007.
Posted by: Anthony Location: Tampa on Sep 5, 2008 at 05:31 PM
It's because of Union's that most of our work has moved to other countries. "Made in the USA" has become too costly for the consumer as a result!
Posted by: Garagegoon Location: Here on Sep 5, 2008 at 05:21 PM
To respond to something posted by Truth.....And I quote...."Go back to work workers, or get out of my town." This town would not exist if it were not for aircraft. And if you dont like the fact that we strike. How is it that if we strike that it affects you? If you want more money then come work at a factory with us union people. You would not make it a month out here. Since you mention nurses you must be one... You are probably one of them that i see sitting on your enlarged butt outside the hospital having your umteenth smoke for the day. Im sick of going into the hospital and waiting on your slow lazy butts to finnaly see to me. So... Maybe you should get to work and stop commenting on something you know nothing about.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 5, 2008 at 05:13 PM
I agree with proud union member my comment was directed towards proud to be hard worker!!!BTW get out of ur town what would wichita be like if aircraft left???? Detroit!!!! Um I bet you could get paid a lot there being a nurse, lots a crime baby!!!
Posted by: Prada Proud on Sep 5, 2008 at 05:11 PM
As the great Cube Gooding jr. once said "show me the money" I LOVE THE UNION. OMG if my husband did not work aircraft iI would so have to get off my fat Prada booty and get a job. Now thats scary call the nurse I need some prozac. Oh wait I have awesome insurance just give me the xanax!!!
Posted by: anonymous Location: ict on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:50 PM
To all you out there that think the strike is a joke than you have no clue why they are striking for. They want job security because the company wants to out source most of the work. If they outsource the work than all of you who want to get a job at Boeing would be stuck at the dead end job your at now with no hope of landing a good job. Another thing is health care goes up. Yea its only a few bucks for these employees, but you let go up than what happens next contract? The company shows record profit of over 13 billion dollars over last 5 years. Its like you guys who are working at mcdonalds are suppose to get a raise and bonus...but the company decides to give it to your manager instead. wouldn't you be upset? or would you just keep your mouth shut with your hands in your pocket and not say anything. I sure as heck would like to see jobs stay here in america. Thats the main reason they are striking.
Posted by: Hello! Location: Kansas on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:45 PM
I don't hear anyone complaning of the raises, or other stuff they receive after the Union wins, so if you cross the line then you should get what the company offers.
Posted by: Wish u were as hot as me on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Proud u speak like a true republican!!!! LMAO!!!! U seem to know a lot about welfare there let me know how it's workin out 4 ya!!!LMAO!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 5, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Your town, how funny. I agree that nurses probably need raises but that doesn't mean "factory workers" do not. This is so funny. I am sure you are some hot shot millionaire - LMAO!
Posted by: PROUD UNION MEMBER Location: WELLINGTON on Sep 5, 2008 at 03:39 PM
Wow, Proud, you must be really PROUD of yourself. To wish families go without food and starve - shows what kind of human being you are. It is so funny that people automatically think Union workers are greedy! We are not greedy but just refuse to stand back and let big corporate companies totally walk all over us. We are just asking for a little job security in this country, not just our job but even yours. Like the idea of someone getting paid 25 cents an hour to make our airplane parts - I sure dont! Tomorrow someone new is coming in and U are going to train them but we are going to pay them pretty much what we pay you - does that sound good? Not to me. What they take away today they will continue to try to take away each contract. But hey I guess if you think all of this is greedy then I guess I am. Keep letting all of the work in this country leave and see where we all end up!
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 5, 2008 at 03:34 PM
boeing must have known that it was a bad proposal or they that really couldn't afford a strike with the backlog they have. so maybe that is the reason they are trying to come to terms if they are are something the company can live with. our economy doesn't need any more unemployed with it being the highest in 5 years. hope they can come to terms.
Posted by: Truth Location: Ne Wichita on Sep 5, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Agreed Proud and Marcy! This strike is such a joke. Factory workers are the LAST people that should be on strike. I hope Boeing refuses to compromise. Then I hope Boeing lays off all of these workers so they are forced to get a job at Wendy's or McDonalds since they really don't have any valuable education. They might have a B.A. or an Associates degree but come on....they don't deserve raises and bonuses. Take a poll of nurse's in Wichita. Ask them how often they get a raise and when the last time they got a bonus was. Go back to work workers, or get out of my town.
Posted by: wichita Location: wichita on Sep 5, 2008 at 03:15 PM
DO WHAT!!!!!!!!
Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Sep 5, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Proud, you must be really working hard, sitting at a desk trying to think of more mean spirited, nasty things to say to working people every day. are you just jelous of union people, or paid to try to turn people against unions?
Posted by: Marcy Location: Wichita on Sep 5, 2008 at 01:25 PM
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH PROUD!!! You have said it better then anyone yet!
Posted by: Frank Location: Formerly Wichita, Now Seattle on Sep 5, 2008 at 01:13 PM
The Job Security clause only gives IAM workers the opportunity to bid on a job before the company automatically sends it off to France, isn't that only fair? Delays on 787 program are due to outsourcing problems not IAM or SPEEA-parts come in incomplete and wrong configuration but supplier contract says they don't have to fix their mistakes we fix them here yet they still get paid.Is that IAM's fault? Boeing just bought out two suppliers because they just absolutely could not get the job done correctly.The company has every right to make a profit off of their product for it's shareholders I agree,but since my labor is my product don't I also have the right to make a living for my shareholders(my family)? I used to be a hater and even made fun of my wife who's SPEEA, but as the saying goes..until you've walked in someone elses shoes.Again, the average wage at Boeing is $15 per hour and that's people who've been with the company for for an average of 3 years service.
Posted by: mr ed Location: the talking horse on Sep 5, 2008 at 12:51 PM
lets get this right they are moving the talks to an area a Hurrican is about to hit how fitting
Posted by: Proud to actually be a hard worker Location: West Wichita on Sep 5, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Suck it up & do your job like normal people. Why do you greedy union members think you are soooo much better then anyone else? I hope they don't give you what you want & you have to strike & go without insurance & a paycheck & have to starve. Then again you low life's might hop on the welfare band wagon & make the government pay your way in life!
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 5, 2008 at 11:40 AM
STRIKE
Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Sep 5, 2008 at 11:18 AM
at least they are still talking.
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Boeing Wichita Cutting 800 Positions
  • Posted By: carroll: alan- ur right. dun is dun. i'm glad i'm on the west side of oliver-- best place to be right now. i'm still on 3 day weeks as a result of the strike. i'm really cramped right now, but i support the east siders 100%! i'm not clear on what current bail outs has to do with 800 being laid off or what McCain has to do with contracts that expire. now i will agree that there are boobs in management. it's that way EVERYWHERE! it's called- promote the incompetent. so they don't hose up everything on the floor. where the real work and productivity happens. a thousand managers have no job with out 10,000 to manage. i've been a manager. everyone loves to blame management for all their woes-- it's cheap and easy. not all decisions are bad even if we don't like them. not all are wise, and proven so in the long run. i've got to work. I will decide what MY approach to today will be. life sux. get over it. get on with it. it'll get better.
  • Posted By: Alan: Jack, I must have hit a nerve? Most managers at Boeing and Spirit are incompetent fools that could not lead a fish to swim in water. It is because of these manager/CEO morons, that these companies, banks or whatever, are in the mess they are in.
  • Posted By: Alan: - Contrary to what some believe, the cut backs on the military programs at Boeing, have nothing to do with Spirit. Boeing is laying off because the contracts are FINISHED, COMPLETE, DONE. Has NOTHING to do with the strike. - And to Anonymous, if Boeing "commercial" cuts back, of course it will affect Spirit, what are you thinking, or are you? - When Boeing came out in the NEWS, and said they were thinking of dropping out of the bidding process, that pretty much summed it up for me. - Yes N, they are there comments, but they are based on nothing but ignorance, none of it is based on fact.
  • Posted By: jack: 1. I was against the first bailout of the financial companies. 2. I am against any other bailout plan. 3. Let the auto industry file bankruptcy to negate union contracts. 4. execs of failing companies should lose jobs or at least large part of salaries. 5. I believe current layoffs are due to economy in large part, but recent strikes have impact too. 6. Union members pay attention to item 3 above or you will be next. 7. Alan shut up! the reason people get promoted is becaues they show leadership skills & qualities you obviously do not have. You Alan are one of the sheeples who blindly follow the leader. You had better hope your leader (the union) are not lemmings.
  • Posted By: Annoyed: Gee, this wouldn't have a thing to do with Sen. McCain wanting to open the bidding for our Military Tanker to a foreign country. Or the fact that once Boeing cried foul and got it stopped the current administration wants to wait and let the new administration handle it. Or that the CEO's and other upper crust at Boeing want their bonuses and perks. Either the brain surgeons on this site can't understand the news or read the paper.
  • Posted By: Response to Anon: If you look at Japan, you will see that when companies start doing poorly, the executives take a decrease in pay because they are considered the responsible party. That's not the case in the USA. They start cutting the little guys here, then reward themselves for increasing profitablity with nice fat raises. I'm not a fan of unions, but I do realize they are NOT what is bringing down our industry. It is crappy management and shoddy accounting practices.
  • Posted By: Just an Observation: You guys are all correct!! It's those evil UNION guys making less than 100k a year sucking all the money out of the companies. It couldn't be all the CEO's, managers, supervisors and supervisors over supervisors bonuses, could it? Profits aren't going to be what they have been, so the only way these clowns are going to get the hefty bonuses they are used to is by cutting overhead. We all know the big dogs aren't going to get rid of themselves, so they boot the workers. They get a HUGE bonus and the remaining workers get MANDATORY OVERTIME. All the while the public p*** and moan about those evil unions.
  • Posted By: : So, Alan the Spirit worker: does this affect the commercial side "Boeing Co. has seen its orders peak and the number of commercial planes in its backlog will probably decline going forward." I
  • Posted By: Curious: Alan, When did Airbus officially get the bid? I thought Boeing lodged a complaint and it was still up in the air... Just curious.
  • Posted By: : Look at the quote in the story: "taking steps to restructure our business in order to lower our rates and become more affordable for customers." This IS about the bottom line. The price a customer pays for a product includes labor costs. Strikes cost millions. Unless the government bails out the auto industry, (a short term fix at best) labor unions there will be gone. One of the foreign companies will buy buildings and equipment for pennies on the dollar, capturing capacity and market share. They can take all the time they need, hire anyone they want, and in the meantime car prices go up, incentives go down, and spare parts are hard to come by. They have the operating capital to do it. Why? Because their current workforce strives for continuous improvement and cost reduction, instead of whining about their pay rate and haggling over details when they are already fairly compensated. Unless drastic changes are made, aircraft will soon be circling the drain as well. Wake up people!
  • Posted By: Deanna: It's a good thing they striked. They would have still had the layoffs so at least you stuck up for yourselves and got a more resonable contract.
  • Posted By: n: Boy, Alan seems to be the smart one out of the bunch. Using words like morons, stupidity, and idiots. Hey Alan why don't you post your comment and leave the insults out. Their not stupid or idiots or morons; it's their comments.
  • Posted By: n: I said when you were striking that you might win in the negotiations but that you'd lose in the long run and ah...I was so right, the layoff is the payoff for your greediness, I certainly hope that those being laid off are the ones that were on the picket line in the first place and not the ones that chose to work and not be greedy and wanting more. God sure works in mysterious ways to those not content with what they have.....Guess who is getting the last word...GOD!!!!
  • Posted By: Elaine: Of course, this is not good news but at least you get to work thru the holidays and you get a 60 day notice instead of just a few days.
  • Posted By: JD: "Alan", i dont know whether to say your comments are stupid or ignorant. If you think the layoffs have nothing to do with the strike, then you are just naive. Boeing and Spirit can make you beleive whatever they want to. But look at the facts, how can it not have to do with the strike.Think about it, you guys struck for more pay and they said ok. And now they are laying off obvisously because there is not enough money to keep the workforce where it is at now. Hmm to me that sounds like because you greedy employees wanted more and now they cant afford it. Just my opinion! So how about you look at the obvious instead of looking at things through you Boeing blinders. Way to go strikers now you can explain to your families why things are tight just like the other hard workers who got laid off because of your laziness. Best wishes to those families who had nothing to do with the strike and for the ones who did....well KARMA is a wonderful thing.
  • Posted By: Johnny B: See what that strike got you . Next time maybe you wont be so greedy . There is no such thing as job security anymore !!!!
  • Posted By: PJ: I do work for Spirit in Wichita. I also used to work for Boeing. As soon as the strike ended I told my wife "Here come the layoffs". It has happened every time there has been a strike at Boeing. Spirit immune to the layoffs plauging the industry? Dont bet on it. Everyday there are more and more people losing their jobs. That translates into less money for people to take that vacation to grandmas for Christmas, that weekend trip to Vegas, that....you get the picture. Less people flying hurts everyone. Right now Spirit is over built because of the strike. How much longer will management keep people on 3 days, when it is cheaper to lay us off so as not to pay for our benefits. If you're not a little anxious over this, then you must be living in a different world then the rest of us. This country hasn't seen anything yet, if congress doesn't help out the automakers. 2,000,000 unemployed is a lot of people. I'd rather see congress bail out the A/I then the Banking and Security industries.
  • Posted By: dc: Too bad to to read some comments in this section. Well, we have to admit and accept the truth that in business we can't guarantee it stays strong. Sometimes it happened like this that business turn down and many of the people getting their bread & butter from it, so it is so sad and depressing, right?..but let us think of wonderful thing and start seeking another job, i think there are still jobs around there that awaits you - don't lose the hope you know and be strong enough to face crisis like this and im sure you grow as well because this is life!
  • Posted By: Alan: Hey K, get a clue, because you do not have one! The military cut back at Boeing is NOT affecting Spirit. I suggest you get your facts straight before aimlessly flapping your gums.
  • Posted By: Anon: The United Auto Workers union has bankrupted the automobile industry, and has the companies so burdened with labor costs that they cannot possibly compete with Toyota, Volvo, Nissan, etc. The aircraft industry and the IAM would be smart to apply that lesson to the aviation industry.
  • Posted By: John: It still proves that the amount of morons that Wichita has. The layoffs have nothing to do with the strike. But every moron that thinks it does will have something stupid to say about it
  • Posted By: K: Hey alan, you genius my husband works there and was told this, i am very well aware boeing is the military area in wichita but apparently that does not matter. So before you spout your crap, don't forget others are in the front line of the layoffs and may actually know what they are talking about. Talk about being uneducated and calling the kettle black!
  • Posted By: Alan: If some of you idiots making these stupid comments, actually find your way onto the payroll of an aircraft company, and they, the company, find out that you really are extremely stupid, that can't understand or do your job, you will probably be made a manager. Boeing has used this technique forever, and Spirit is continuing the trend. You go boy, you go girl!!
  • Posted By: janet: Good going union. Protect your company rights and now because of your greed your people have no...Job. When will you learn that when you get greedy you lose. For all of you who said you were on strike to protect your family, you sure did. Hope you don't lose your home and car and everything you have because now you have NO JOB. You deserve it.
  • Posted By: Alan: The stupidity and ignorance runs deep on this comment section of KAKE. The layoffs have nothing to do with the recent strike. It has everything to do with a few military contracts concluding. The plan was to move the employees that were working on these contracts over to the new tanker program for the United States Air Force. But since our wonderful politicians decided to spend our hard earned tax dollars to pay Airbus to build the aircraft instead, these high skilled mod mechanics are now being laid off. You morons that make these totally uninformed comments amaze me, as you probably do others that read this section also. I can't decide if the fact that you are so severely uneducated, that you can not obtain a decent job other than flipping burgers at McDonalds or you are just plan stupid, and feel the need to lash out at persons that are considered skilled labor. And to the genius that thinks a military cutback will affect Spirit, why would it? They are military, we here at Spirit, are in the most part, commercial. Can some of you not read at all? Educate yourselves prior to making a fool of yourself, like making these half witted comments. If you are that stupid, at least try and learn to appear that you know what you are talking about, so far, most on here are failing, miserably.
  • Posted By: Kenny: I just told my wife after the strike, I said "Just wait, now that they are going back to work, boeing will layoff!" I love being right.
  • Posted By: Joy: Bet your glad you striked now huh?
  • Posted By: q: I only read that they are laying off in wichita. Will they be laying off in Seattle or any other place?
  • Posted By: K: Was told out of rumor that if Boeing lays off then Spirit will lay off too, just lovely for those that are still on 3 day work weeks out there, only to possibly get laid off after the 1st of the year.
  • Posted By: john: Wichita is soon to be the new Detroit in Kansas. The IAM does not know about people....only about greed. I would bet the laid off workers at Beechcraft, Cessna, and Boeing would take a wage cut over layoffs and losing their jobs any day...but thanks IAM...that is not an option. If the companies go bankrupt there will be no jobs for anyone. All of the older employees (IAM members) do not care...seniority makes their jobs safe...or so they think...WAKE UP YOU ARE NEXT! History will show unions to be the demise of american industry. And to think the engineers at Boeing want a 20% pay increase in their new contract? Whatever! Pay attention to Detroit...Wichita is next and the IAM is the issue along with greedy people!
  • Posted By: : HaHaHa to bad,good thing ya strike...........
  • Posted By: : It appears the strike for job security.. didn't work out that well.
  • Posted By: : WAY TO GO IAM!!! Let the Union revel in their victory. Wait victory implies a win - this doesn't look like a win to me....lol...lol...lol...;-)
  • Posted By: : Anyone want to take a back the strike that the Union just had. Part of the reason why 800 jobs are going to be gone.
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