David Clay and Don Grinde, two Everett Machinists, sat down for a Q&A interview with the Socialist Worker. http://www.socialistworker.org/2005-2/558/558_11_Boeing.shtml
Key Quote (from Don): “People are pissed. They’re not going to take it this time. In the last contract [in 2002], there were rumors going around that you could vote the contract down and not reaffirm the strike vote. I think that’s what tipped it in Boeing’s favor. We rejected it, and we ended up eating it anyway.”
Key Quote: (from Dave): “They (Boeing executives) are like a B-52 pilot at 50,000 feet, dropping ordnance on the green down below. They don’t see what goes on down there. They’re just looking at the bottom line.”
And if you want to read the official Machinist line, the union’s monthly newsletter, Aero Mechanic, is out this week, both in print and on pdf. http://www.iam751.org/Aero_Sept_05.pdf
Key Quote, from district president Mark Blondin’s message to members: “I can’t explain the pride I felt in our membership who said NO to this insulting, takeaway, job-stealing sellout offer.”
In other business, The Motley Fool http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2005/mft05092308.htm warns investors that a long-term strike would be bad for Boeing.
Key Quote: “For Boeing, the longer the rift lasts, the less financial sense it makes to hold out. “
And across the pond, Reuters reports http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2005-09-22T072702Z_01_FOR226796_RTRUKOC_0_UK-MANUFACTURING-SMITHS-BOEING.xml&archived=False that key aerospace supplier Smiths Group Plc. is not yet affected by the strike.
Key Quote. “He (CEO Keith Butler-Wheelhouse) said the strike would have to run at least 60 days before it had an impact on Smiths.”
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