Bird On The Wing The Vote Is For Wednesday

Japan eagerly awaits the IAM machinist vote this upcoming Wednesday on November 13th. If the IAM rejects Boeing's offering, the Puget Sound machinist will need to rethinks its collective resume with Boeing. Wings may go to Japan, and the Body may go to Long Beach. Either way, Boeing is prepared to invest in the Northwest further if the Union agrees to reduced retirement plans and new income structure offered by Boeing. The gauntlet has dropped for the NW airplane Machinist Union, and on Wednesday, Boeing will see if they will pick it up. A post union vote of No, will send Boeing into a reconfiguration for the Northwest. Japan will benefit, no doubt. Plant facilities are available elsewhere. The message was sent from Charleston that Boeing can build on any swamp at any time. Or on any desert at any time and do it in two years or less.

Boeing may covet that opportunity to do just that, and would like the IAM to accommodate Boeing by a no vote on Boeing's offer, making it a clean bulldozer move onto some 2500+ acres in the US or overseas. Boeing would then write its own ticket without the IAM. However, members who are 10-15 years from retirement would say do I really don't want to move at this time, while my son or daughter is planning college? I see that vote picking up the gauntlet with attitude and voting yes for some. The new workers, who have a small dog in the fight don't know how to play this and people are ready for retirement will vote with its collective single finger pointed at Boeing. The vote will be varied and Boeing has positioned itself as wanting to move on sooner rather than later. Boeing has a vote passage team on stand-by ready to implement the 777X program, and a vote no team ready for a carved up renovated and rebuilt program spread out over the globe.

A no-way Boeing vote would also promote labor strife in the NW, causing disruptions and other harming slowdowns. The part of this business has been explored as everyone hopes a labor issue doesn't erupt at any time. All involved dare speak of it unless into the late hours of night. Boeing would prefer peace and status quot for transitioning to the 777X project. The two cards in play are Boeing's contract indifference, and the other, a labor dispute from the union. These two cards can be avoided by both committing to the greater purpose. The 777X is a critical tactic in stopping Airbus. Boeing don't biff it up! Boeing has options around the world, but don't use those options unless it’s part of an over-arching plan for super seeding Airbus' answer to Boeing family of aircraft. Don't use clout against unions just because Boeing has created an opportunity to deal with unions.

Each move should be a competitive move to win the airplane wars. Your best (the unions) should be assured of its part in Boeing's success. Even though I am not a Union proponent and spent my life guarding against any union partnership, I would examine the advantages Boeing's relationship with Unions in achieving its goals. You (unions) have paid more through organized workmanship, and it has brought the company to this point. Because the union existed, it has placed its own accountability on itself as a Boeing partner. If something failed on the floor, the workforce is accountable for those faults. I am not in favor of a union workshop for other reasons. Boeing would ultimately cause itself unrepairable harm. If it continues to seek relief from being encumbered by Unions, during a time of moving forward, then it unnecessarily risks the bigger picture of beating its competitor. All involved should wait, a union will self-destruct like many other organized governing bodies have done throughout history, and in time that paradigm will shift.

Boeing needs to keep its eye on the ball, period. I realize it has hedged its bet with the labor uncertainties by going after other plan B's. Those plan B's should be for its competitor's not for its labor voice. If labor wants too much as is often tempted to do, then it needs to re-examine its relationship with Boeing. Too many irons are in the fire and one faction does not build any aircraft. However, they the craftsmen and women, need proportionality for the whole idea, and its conception into reality.