Boeing, Machinists Talks Move To Florida

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Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@kake.com

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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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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

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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