Boeing, Machinists likely to resume talks this weekend

Published 11:07 pm Thursday, October 9, 2008

EVERETT — Tammy Adams wants to go back to work at the Boeing Co.

Outside the company’s factory gate in Everett, Adams wore a blue Boeing sweatshirt but held a “Machinists Union on Strike” sign. She’s one of 27,000 Machinists waiting to see whether a new round of talks between Boeing and the union will bring the now 35-day strike to an end. Inside Boeing’s factory sit a few of the 3,700 jets on order with the company.

“I hope they come up with a deal — I need to get back to work,” Adams said.

The Everett resident has worked for Boeing the past 12 years. Adams recently had to pay the premium on her son’s health insurance since her coverage through Boeing ran out Sept. 30 because she’s on strike. Adams’ son, Joshua, is on the waiting list for a liver transplant, so the family can’t be without insurance.

Adams is hopeful that officials for Boeing and the Machinists union will come to an agreement on a new three-year labor deal. She wants the sides to work out their differences on wages and outsourcing. But the changes in health coverage, even the increases, Adams can handle.

“We have excellent coverage,” she said.

Boeing and the Machinists agreed late Wednesday to revive contract talks through a federal mediator. The details of the meeting haven’t been worked out, but talks likely will start this weekend. No specific day was given.

Boeing’s stock, along with the financial market, took another tumble Thursday. The company’s shares closed at $44.41, down 6.9 percent, or $3.29, for the day. That set another 52-week low for the aerospace company, which had hit $102.40 a year ago today.

The decision to go back to the negotiating table came after Boeing executives sent a series of messages to employees, stressing the damage the strike is doing to the company’s reputation. The company also stressed its need to remain competitive through outsourcing.

“We have asked the union to work with us in finding ways to stabilize employment, but we cannot, nor would it be wise to, guarantee future employment in the face of stiff competition and a dynamic marketplace,” wrote Scott Carson, president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in a message on Monday.

Leaders for the Machinists said they’re not looking to make Boeing less competitive. They recognize that the company needs to make some agreements with partners in other countries as part of its sales strategy. But the union wants the chance to bid on long-standing union work that Boeing decides to outsource.

“These are parts that we’ve always made that they want to get rid of whether it’s a good business case or not,” said Connie Kelliher, Machinists spokeswoman.

The Machinists also are fighting to keep outside vendors from coming into Boeing’s factories to perform work typically done by union members, such as materials delivery and inventory tasks, she said.

Striking Machinist Dennis Stelter wasn’t very optimistic about Boeing and the Machinists’ decision to resume negotiations. With more than 20 years at Boeing, Stelter said he’s prepared to be on strike until January.

“I don’t think they’re going to do much,” he said. “The company isn’t going to budge (on outsourcing).”

Just a few feet away from Stelter, Lucille Simpson held a picket sign with her grandchildren. The Everett resident has worked at Boeing for two years. Like Adams, she’s tired of the strike, which began Sept. 6.

“Oh God, I hope we go back to work,” she said. “The bills are piling up and the holidays are coming.”