Boeing executives continue to fumble negotiations with frontline workers as more ‘old school’ tactics by management fall flat
SEATTLE – Boeing executives made two announcements in the media over the last 48 hours, both of which seem intended to distract from executives’ failure to return to the negotiating table with their frontline workers.
On Thursday, Boeing executives committed yet another error in their labor relations efforts with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), announcing a series of groundless claims being filed with the National Labor Relations Board that seek to blame frontline workers for the company’s missteps in recent labor talks. Those corporate missteps have included releasing proposals to the media before they are negotiated; modifying so-called “best and final” offers multiple times before then hastily withdrawing those offers; cutting healthcare coverage for thousands of families and children of their employees; and more.
Today, the company seeded a story to a national media outlet in which they publicly threatened to discontinue their 767 cargo plane, the long-term, multi-year future production of which in no way would be logistically impacted by the four-week current work stoppage. Typically, two to four of those cargo planes are manufactured each month, so the timing of the company claiming they will cancel future years for the cargo plane line over a work stoppage that has been less than one month seems dubious, at best, according to workers.
The company’s announcement today related to the 767 commercial freighter is very troubling, particularly given the current state of negotiations. The Union is assessing the implications of the announcement.
Previously, IAM members led a successful multi-year lobbying effort to extend government regulatory conditions that would allow for the continued manufacturing of the 767 cargo plane. Without the efforts of the IAM to win the necessary government clearances for the plane’s continued production, long-term production of the vital cargo vehicle would have been stymied.
In response to these latest missteps and cynical tactics by Boeing executives, Jon Holden, President of IAM District 751, which represents frontline striking Boeing workers in Washington state and California, released the following statement:
“Boeing is attempting to bargain in the press. It won’t work and it is detrimental to the bargaining process. Boeing is simply attempting the same old bargaining tactics. They are attempting to deal directly with the membership and sow seeds of doubt and division in our Union. They hope to drive a wedge within our Union. There is no chance of that. We are stronger than ever and united on every picket line.
“We worked to prepare our members and make them aware of Boeing’s tactics. This May, Boeing locked out its own Firefighters, members of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local I-66, on International Firefighters Day. Local I-66 was still ready to bargain and working to reach an agreement. Boeing can’t stand any worker that stands up to them and became frustrated with the Firefighters efforts to stand strong for their members. On May 16, Boeing negotiators sent a letter to the homes of every Firefighter (view and read the text from the letter here) to disparage the Union, their bargaining committee, and made claims of bad faith bargaining. We knew the company would do this to the IAM as well.
“In June, the IAM prepared our membership for this. At every Local Lodge meeting in June, we shared the letter sent by Boeing to the 125 Firefighters’ homes. We told our members that Boeing would also attempt to disparage the IAM, our negotiating committee and claim we were not bargaining in good faith. Boeing is using the same old tired tactics of bargaining in the press. Instead of sending letters to our 33,000 members’ homes, they are trying to save postage and send it to the press. While the IAM has filed charges against Boeing to protect our members’ legal rights and force the company to bargain in good faith; Boeing filed these frivolous ULP charges and sent them immediately to the media to bargain only in the press. It won’t work.
“Bargaining is hard work, and Boeing keeps walking away from the table. During our three mediated talks, the company has walked away all three times. They gave up and left the FMCS mediators to let us know they had walked away. At the latest talks, they withdrew their offer and then wanted to tell everyone all about it. This weak attempt of a power move will only make it harder to reach an agreement. The fact they are complaining about our proposals shows their desperation and only proves to our members that we are fighting for them. Our members will grow more defiant and more united as they see Boeing continually walk away and quit.
“Boeing also claimed in their Oct. 8 update that we made ‘non-negotiable demands’ in mediation. The arrogance of Boeing attempting to define what we can or can’t propose is very revealing. Who are they to say what we can propose in bargaining? We are fighting for our members and their priorities. Any effort to disparage our union and bargain in the press will not drive us from the priorities set by our membership. Personal attacks sent to the media will never work.
“The path to resolve this strike begins at the bargaining table. An unwillingness to stay at the table only prolongs the strike. CEO Ortberg has an opportunity to do things differently instead of the same old tired labor relations threats used to intimidate and crush anyone that stands up to them. Our membership is too powerful for that and is standing on principles. Ultimately, it will be our membership that determines whether any negotiated contract offer is accepted. They want a resolution that is negotiated and addresses their needs. Get back to the bargaining table.”
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The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
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