First of all, I want to update you on our reader poll. The poll, as of 11:45 a.m., Sunday, shows about 66 percent of respondents believe union members will strike the Boeing Co. next week. You still can cast your vote below.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been getting some interesting e-mails and phone calls from readers about negotiations between the Boeing Co. and its Machinists union.
I think sharing a few of these with you might help clear up questions that many other readers have. I’ve summarized the questions/comments and referred to the reader by first name only when a name was provided.
Question: Why to you keep writing that the average wage for a Machinist is $56,000? The average wage is about $15 an hour ($31,200 annually)? — Tim, in a phone message a week ago
Answer: Boeing provided the annual salary estimate of $56,000 in May when it began negotiations with the union. When thousands of new Machinists are signing in at $10.72 or $11.72 an hour, it’s understandable to think the average should be much lower. But keep in mind, the union also has thousands of members with 10, 20 and 30 years experience who are topping out the maximums.
That said, Tim is right: $56,000 is not the average any longer. His question prompted me to check in with the union, which had never disputed the figure to me. They pointed out the number was from last August, which is when Boeing provides its annual update to the union on members’ salaries. I checked with Boeing. They provided the new, lower average current figure. The union has pointed to the lower annual salary as reason the minimum rates need to be bumped – a contentious point in Boeing’s contract offer.
Q: Why do you refer to International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers members as “Machinists” when we have plumbers, electricians, toolmakers in our ranks? And why do you publish our salaries? That info should be kept private. – Peter, a 28-year Boeing employee
A: It is important to keep in mind that not all IAM members are “machinists.” Good point. However, on the most recent flyer the union put out on Boeing’s contract offer, district president Tom Wroblewski refers to his members as “The Fighting Machinists.” The union sets the tone – so you’ll have to take that question to Wroblewki and other union leaders.
As far as printing salaries … that’s also one you might want to address both with Boeing and the union, as discussed above. But average wage info for nearly any occupation is reported to government labor authorities and can be found (by county) readily on the Internet.
The same day Peter wrote in, I received a phone call from a very angry wife of a Machinist. Due to increased deductibles and maximums, as well as a new mandatory generic drug policy, her husband would only get an increase of about $16 monthly from the new contract. She said this was how the “average” Machinists was impacted under the contract and the Herald should be printing it.
The point? One reader, Peter, doesn’t even want salary information out there. The other reader wants really personal information – the average Machinist’s prescription drug info – printed. I guess I’m in the middle. Prescription drug information, and how frequently the average Machinist maxes out his/her insurance coverage – that’s too private. And based on reader comments and discussions with union and company leaders, I’m unconvinced her husband’s case is the “average.”
But , as always, I’d love to hear from you. Send me an email with your thoughts on the Boeing contract or post a comment below.
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