In the end, practical concerns trumped emotional ones, likely ending a nearly month-long strike by Boeing Machinists.
The very welcome news of a tentative settlement was a surprise to nearly everyone, because negotiators on both sides played it smart – they avoided negotiating in the media, striking a deal in secret weekend talks on neutral turf in Washington, D.C.
Even the pundits who normally break such news a day ahead of time were in the dark on this story. In fact, there was wide consensus that both sides were far apart and prepared to hold out into December.
Instead, negotiators reached what appears to be a reasonable compromise, with the union getting much of what it sought – chiefly an increase in pension contributions and an extension of current health-care benefits for employees and retirees.
Both sides are to be commended for staying focused on a settlement. Union leaders came to the table with the strong backing of the rank and file. Both sides showed flexibility. The company brought in former U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt as a consultant, a long-time friend of labor. Finally, both sides appear to have realized that they’re stronger as partners than as adversaries, that the real opponent for both of them is Airbus.
Labor turbulence was the last thing Boeing needed right now, just as it begins to reclaim its place at the top of the commercial jetliner sales heap. Sales of the upcoming 787 Dreamliner have been brisk, and overall, the company has booked more than 620 orders this year, according to Business Week. The strike threatened this long-awaited momentum, and suppliers were surely beginning to get nervous.
Gov. Christine Gregoire, currently on a trade mission to Asia, said as much in a statement Monday from Beijing. “Here in China and while I was in Japan I heard firsthand from suppliers that it is critical the strike be settled quickly if their contracts and existing business relationships are to be sustained,” Gregoire said. “This agreement is critical to Boeing, the workers and to Washington state, as well as to suppliers and customers in the U.S. and around the world.”
The settlement is also good news for the region’s economy, eliminating a potential hiccup just as the local employment picture is brightening and the holiday shopping season is getting started. If union members approve the new three-year contract on Thursday, as expected, the outlook for happy holidays in Snohomish County will definitely improve.
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