After Boeing and its Machinists union broke off contract talks again yesterday, Herald readers have sent in some interesting comments on the negotiations, including at least one intriguing conspiracy theory.

Here’s one reader’s take:

..it’s a scare tactic to tell SPEEA look what we are doing to the IAM you want that to? if SPEEA gets scared they will accept whatever Boeing offers. …

if this works for Boeing that will be the beginning of the end of the IAM,,,,, will the rank and file stay out???? will SPEEA join us?? Not sure But you can bet I will not go back to that old contract offer.

Boeing and SPEEA will launch into serious contract talks later this month regardless of whether the Machinists’ strike is still going.

Earlier this year, we polled readers about potential union strikes. Then, about 18 percent of respondents had hopes that Boeing would avert a work stoppage by reaching deals with both its Machinists and engineering unions. But 41 percent of readers thought both the Machinists and SPEEA would strike. Thirty-eight percent said only the Machinists would walk, while 3 percent had thought only SPEEA would strike.

A lot has changed in the past few months – both in the financial markets and with Boeing negotiations.

How do you think Boeing’s contract talks with the Machinists will impact negotiations with SPEEA? Is Boeing trying to send a message to SPEEA via the Machinists (i.e.: Boeing’s not willing to negotiate on outsourcing)?