Skip to main content

27,000 Boeing workers on strike…

Image
By
Ten days ago, 27,000 workers for the aircraft manufacture Boeing, who are members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) went out strike in three states – Washington, Oregon, and Kansas. Boeing, one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, a company that has been tremendously profitable in recent years, has pushed concessions on its workforce in the past few contracts. In 2005, Boeing workers halted some of these concessions with a month long strike. But the workers have gone without a pay raise for 4 years, and entry level wages for new hires haven’t been raised since 1992. Outsourcing has reduced the amount of union jobs at Boeing, as the company has continued to shift more and more of its production to non-union sub-contractors, some locally, some around the globe. Preventing further outsourcing and protecting job security is a key issue for the union.

In contract negotiations this Summer, the company once again asked for further concessions in health care benefits and wanted the ability to pursue even more outsourcing. The reaction of IAM members was a 99% vote in July to authorize strike action. With the company refusing to budge at the negotiating table, a strike was declared Saturday, September 6th.

It is important for all workers around the country to stand in solidarity with the striking Boeing workers. Their opposition to outsourcing and concessionary contracts is a fight against threats facing most workers in manufacturing. Workers in Chicago have a specific responsibility given Boeing’s corporate HQ is located right here in downtown Chicago. Check back to pilsenprole tomorrow for more on plans for a rally outside Boeing HQ, probably on Friday.

Listen to an interview with IAM spokesperson Connie Kelliher at the link below, to find out more about the issues behind this strike. This interview aired on last night’s episode of Labor Express Radio…
http://www.archive.org/details/IamSpokespersonConnieKelliherOnBoeingStrike

Check out this article on the strike at Counterpunch…
http://www.counterpunch.org/macaray09152008.html


IAM website for more info on strike...




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Honduran Civil Society Leaders Visit Chicago, Advocate for Restoration of the Constitutional Government and an End to Human Rights Violations...

By
Honduran Civil Society Leaders Visit Chicago, Advocate for Restoration of the Constitutional Government and an End to Human Rights Violations La Voz de los de Abajo, Casa Morazán and NALACC invite you to panel discussions and community forums in Chicago with leaders of Honduran civil society touring U.S. with immigrant leaders to advocate for the restoration of the constitutional government and an end to the escalating human rights violations. One month after the interruption of constitutional order in Honduras through a military coup d’état and in the wake of widespread reports of human rights violations harkening back to events of the 1980s, the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC) is bringing a delegation of civil society representatives from that country to the U.S. to participate in a speaking tour and to advocate for the restoration of constitutional order and respect for human rights. U.S. based Latino immigrant leaders will also join this del...
Post a Comment
Read more

Best Films of 2023...

By
  Best Films of 2023 Well, it's already early February somehow and award season for the 2023 film year is well underway.  2023 was the first year post-pandemic I was able to see the volume of new films to warrant a top 10 list - a practice I started in 2017 but abandoned after 2020 when like the rest of the world I was mostly forced to watch releases from years past on streaming services.  Last year, despite my ongoing poverty, through a host of tricks, streaming services, tight budgets, and the generosity of friends, I was able to see around 40 new releases.  For most of 2023, I considered it the YEAR OF DISAPPIONTMENTS .  That's still my primary description of the year in film.  Long anticipated and ballyhooed new films by Nolan, Scorsese, Fincher, and Wes Anderson to name a few all left me dissatisfied.   Not because I am an adoring fan of these directors, but given the high regard with which they are held and given the rich subject matter on which ...
Post a Comment
Read more

PERRO 24 hr vigil a great success...

By
Last Monday PERRO (Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization), held a 24 hr vigil outside the office of Alderman Danny Solis of the 25th ward, to encourage him to become a co-sponsor of the Clean Power Ordinance. Dozens of people participated and the news coverage was extensive especially the Spanish language press. Univision covered the vigil on it 5 pm and 10 pm news broadcasts. Telemundo aired pieces on the vigil at 5 pm, 10 pm and on Tuesday mornings news cast. WBBM News radio 780 mentioned the vigil throughout the day Monday. I will post more later, include pictures, put here are two good print stories on the vigil... http://www.progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2010/09/27/turning-heat-chicagos-clean-power-bill http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/16182-2
Post a Comment
Read more