I’m not going to try to tell you whether Boeing or the Machinists union is right in this strike that has now lasted more than five weeks.
The company is fighting for what it believes in, and so are the employees. Both sides are paying the price for their principles, with lost profits and wages.
To me, the shame of it all is the hardship the strike is causing on all of those people who don’t have anything to gain and so much to lose. I’m talking about all those people at Spirit AeroSystems who are working three-day weeks, the people getting laid off at smaller shops, the suppliers who are having to scale back because Boeing doesn’t need what they make right now.
There are only about 750 Boeing employees on strike in Wichita. But the impact reaches so many more people here, directly and indirectly. And when Boeing and the Machinists come to an agreement, the collateral damage will extend to the suppliers long after the strike is over.
6 Comments
My husband is on 3 day work weeks and will probably be until well after the first of the year. The holiday’s are going to be very tough. Sure wish that Boeing and the union could work out their differences. With talks breaking down, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.
Considering the wider implications, with both the economic uncertainty and the terrible damage to those powerless and outside the process, it’s time for a grown-up to step in and force the parties to be reasonable. There comes a point when collateral damages become unacceptable losses.
Strikes like wars always hurt many who are not directly in the conflict. Getting 40 hour weeks, restricting child labor, safer work places, etc have caused families to suffer and businesses to go out of business to obtain these protections.
We have many laws and acts to restrict the freedoms of business and employees but suffering until agreement remains.
Unfortunately I see this strike lasting for a while. IMHO this is a force majeure for Boeing until they can get their act together on late deliveries.
When that would happen I have no idea…
The more I learn about why the recent talks broke up so soon, the less hope I have. Boeing’s Doug Kight says “The talks broke down because the union wanted to ‘freeze in place’ the roles played by Machinists today in delivering parts.”
So “job security” is now defined as not only having a job, but having exactly the same “role” guaranteed? Lord have mercy! More hopeless detail here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008267513_boeing15.html
Does anyone see the union shooting itself in the foot? The more the union creates problems for Boeing, the more Boeing would be inclined to do more outsourcing. We can make a case for the complete lack of understanding by the union of the concept of reciprocal international trade. Part of the reason Boeing has to do outsourcing is to get sales. I doubt that Boeing will give an inch on outsourcing and the union will not give up on wanting it stopped. Look for a long strike. Boeing has no real choice.