You Be the Union Boss

[saxitoxin]

Boeing is the largest employer in Washington state. They have announced they will move production of their new flagship 777X to South Carolina unless two demands are met: (a) the state grant $9 billion in tax breaks, (b) the Machinists Union immediately agrees to a new contract. Last week the Governor called an emergency session of the legislature; the Democratic controlled House of Representatives passed the tax breaks 75-11 and the Republican controlled Senate passed them 45-2. On Wednesday the Union will vote on the new contract. The Union president, in a meeting of members, tore the contract up, called it a "piece of crap," and threw a chair at the wall.

"NO" VOTE- The current contract will remain in place until 2016 at which time Boeing has said they will move production to South Carolina. If this happened it could result in a loss of up to 10,000 of the 20,000 Machinist jobs in the state. Contract opponents say Boeing is bluffing and South Carolinians aren't capable of building airplanes. The current contract:

(a) PAY Machinist pay starts at $37,000 and increases to $67,000 after 6 years.
(b) RETIREMENT Machinists receive a company-funded pension.
(c) HEALTH CARE Machinists receive company-paid health insurance with a $200 annual deductible.
(d) COST-OF-LIVING RAISES Machinists receive an annual raise tied to the increase in cost-of-living (currently about 2%).

"YES" VOTE - Boeing will give $10,000 to every union member in exchange for a "yes" vote. They would also contractually guarantee to keep 777X production in Washington state for at least 10 years. The new contract:

(a) PAY Machinist pay starts at $37,000 and increases to $67,000 after 12 years.
(b) RETIREMENT Machinists receive a company-matched 401K that would cost each member $300/month in contributions to approximate pension plan.
(c) HEALTH CARE Machinists will be downgraded to a health insurance plan that mirrors Obamacare.
(d) COST-OF-LIVING RAISES Machinists will receive an annual raise of 1% regardless of increase in cost-of-living.

[AndyDufresne]

South Carolinians aren't capable of building airplanes.

This is true, I can independently verify this. Now, if Boeing had threatened to move to North Carolina, home of Kitty Hawk, etc, then that would be an effective bluff.


--Andy

[Nobunaga]

I would pay money to see the look on the union bosses' faces when Boeing packs it up and moves.

[saxitoxin]

update - Boss Wroblewski did a 180 and ended up attending today's signing ceremony by Governor Inslee for the bill passed by the legislature last week. (Was he promised a "job" as a "labor relations consultant" for Boeing after his anti-proposal outburst?)



Union members have posted more than 400 comments to their FB page today denouncing union leadership and contending a massive vote fraud is being planned by the Bosses to ensure the new contract passes:

https://www.facebook.com/IAM751

Guess who was standing there with Inslee at the signing ceremony? None other than our fearless I.A.M. President Tom Wroblewski. Piece of crap? Did you get another suitcase full of money today too? You are not a leader. You are right there with the Boeing executives. Right along with the international telling us we have to vote on this B.S. We are ready to call all of your bluffs.

Wroblewski, you suck! Your days are numbered as our President. I cannot wait for the next election. You are one pathetic sell out son of a bitch!

I wonder how much are vote really means now. I have this odd feeling even if everyone votes no, they'll still come out and say we voted in favor for it.

We don't even have union eligibility cards for this BS staged vote. Are they planning to look through 20,000 names at the door before I get my little piece of paper to put a check mark on (NO) to drop in a garbage can. Tom Wroblewski and his Boeing buddies have already counted the votes. I don't trust them or the results of this so called vote.

Our union will be broken from our own backstabbing leaders. Thanks a lot for lining your pockets with our monthly dues and then bending us over.

[thegreekdog]

I wonder how much money Wroblewski makes?

[saxitoxin]

2 things happening at the same time ...


L-R: Senator Patty Murray (4th highest-ranking Democrat in Congress), CEO of the Corporation Ray Conner, Boss Wroblewski, and Gov. Inslee share a laugh after enjoying a catered lunch in the grand atrium of Boeing's glass-ensconced Flight Museum.


... across town, a local shop of the union rebels and denounces Boss Wroblewski, Boeing, the Democratic Party crony politicos and South Carolina.

... some 300 to 400 militant Machinists, led by local union officials, rallied outside the Everett union hall to shout out a resounding rejection of the contract offer that will be voted on Wednesday.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesste ... tsxml.html

The Committee of the Fourth International (Marxist-Trotskyist) reported the sentiment of one union worker ...

“I am going to hold you [Wroblewski] and the international accountable for ruining me. With 24 years in service, and seven years of layoffs, at age 54 and of failing health, I depended absolutely on those last few years of pension accruals, which in no way will I be able to make up under the new plan with company contributions. Your buddies at the International, the politicians, and the company are who you work for, not us, not me. You will take our money and abandon us. I’m voting no, then I’m done with 751, the IAM [International Association of Machinists], and you. Unity is over, solidarity is finished, our principals sacrificed to politics and corporate profits.”

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/1 ... i-n12.html

They go on to report that when Boss Wroblewski sent his thugs across the factory floor to pressure workers to obey him and other union leaders, workers would have none of it:

One young Machinist, just two years at the company, said that when union officials showed up in his area to hand out fliers with details of the offer, they were swarmed by Machinists thrusting fingers in their faces. Some tore up the fliers on the spot.

[mrswdk]

Needs more of this:

[notyou2]

So, how did you vote Saxi? Are you going to keep building airplanes?

[saxitoxin]

So, how did you vote Saxi? Are you going to keep building airplanes?

Uh, no. The best I can do is make paper airplanes and this is how I do it ...

[saxitoxin]

Workers Reject Boeing Offer

Ignoring warnings from Boeing and pleas from political leaders, members of the Machinists union Wednesday voted 2-to-1 to reject a contract offer that would have ensured the company builds the new 777X jet in Washington state.

Boss Wrobleski Chased out of his own Union Hall

But there was also anger at the union leadership for pushing the offer to a vote.

After Wroblewski and IAM national aerospace coordinator Mark Johnson announced the result at the Seattle union hall, the two were loudly booed by the several hundred Machinists present.

Wroblewswki retreated hastily to his office, trailed by loud insults as he walked briskly along. Then a message came down to waiting journalists that he would not speak to the media as had been previously arranged.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesste ... texml.html

[2dimes]

Your poll shows you might as well be part of that problem sax,

They should have accepted the contract until the 777s were on the production floor in King County. Then wildcat strike to get that contract back. Good luck moving the plant after it was set up. Since it's not set up it's much easier to get it to North Carolina.