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Our view: Boeing vs. union threatens Dreamliner investment
For decades, aircraft maker Boeing has had rocky relations with the union workers who build its planes in Washington state. Since 1977, the union has gone on strike five times, including a 58-day walkout three years ago that cost Boeing an estimated $2 billion and infuriated some of the company's customers. (www.usatoday.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Excellent article. A very fair view on the entire issue. I hope more important people than us realize what is at stake here before Boeing becomes the next GM and Airbus rules the world.
Boeing has made a prudent business move, despite what the union and their lackeys in Washington would have us believe. The unions have made it abundantly clear they would rather see Boeing go down the tubes before they will give an inch, and it is ridiculous to think that our largest exporter would sit back and do nothing. Comparing this great aviation company to BP or the "big banks" is absurd and reeks of desperation. I just hope common sense wins out over labor protectionism. But I'm not holding my breath.
Sigh!
How many times does this scenario have to play out?
Workers need a raise...management goes out tells all its customers about how the nasty unions are pushing the price of it products out of line with the competition (notice they fail to mention the absurd management salaries' effects of pricing), the customers rant and rail about the evil union's unreasonable demands (a fair wage for a day's work!!!!) and USA picks up the story and editorializes on it. Beating up on unions is fun and the readers just LOVE it.
Personally, I'd like to see a how management compensation stacks up against the competition. If there needs to be some belt-tightening, let it start in the management suites and THEN let labor follow the leader.
How many times does this scenario have to play out?
Workers need a raise...management goes out tells all its customers about how the nasty unions are pushing the price of it products out of line with the competition (notice they fail to mention the absurd management salaries' effects of pricing), the customers rant and rail about the evil union's unreasonable demands (a fair wage for a day's work!!!!) and USA picks up the story and editorializes on it. Beating up on unions is fun and the readers just LOVE it.
Personally, I'd like to see a how management compensation stacks up against the competition. If there needs to be some belt-tightening, let it start in the management suites and THEN let labor follow the leader.
Did management go on strike in 2008, delaying deliveries by months? No.
Management compensation is about an order of magnitude lower than the unionized workgroups. It is not what's driving costs.
Management compensation is about an order of magnitude lower than the unionized workgroups. It is not what's driving costs.
When you consider the NLRB is only a board made up of pro-union organizers, its no wonder Boeing lost the first round. It only makes sense for Boeing to WANT to employee people and build aircraft to become bigger, to move to a state where they can assist in keeping costs down and not having to worry about the possible 58 day work stoppage. The Unions only have themselves to blame for not having 100% of production in Washington. If they weren't so greedy and demanding a raise with the thought of another work stoppage if they don't get it.
I am all for Boeings decision. If the Unions don't like it, then its their right to cry and complain about it (Which they do very well), but they must know the reason for the new plant in S.C. is because of their own actions.
I am all for Boeings decision. If the Unions don't like it, then its their right to cry and complain about it (Which they do very well), but they must know the reason for the new plant in S.C. is because of their own actions.
Can both sides negotiate? Yes. but the company went beyond that, it opened a non-union shop. That is just as much a threat to move operations overseas as far as I am concerned.
I have watched company after company instead of negotiating, moving production out. Communities went broke as their tax base in both residential and industrial properties dropped like a lead balloon. Some tried to maintain their status by getting two jobs. Some life eh?
When are we going to learn, that so long as we keep reducing wages in the U.S., that our economy will not keep up? Remember the actions of Henry Ford; “his policy proved, however, that paying people more would enable Ford workers to afford the cars they were producing and be good for the economy.”
We have instead, gone backwards, pay our employees less, and degraded the standard of living we used to have. Blame not the few Unions that exist today, blame the workers for settling for less and less, and companies wanting to have the U.S. mimic low wage countries. Most of all, blame the U.S. consumer, who wanted cheap, even if it meant their neighbors loosing their jobs.
Both parties can settle this, and both would come out with at least a bit more than they had.
I have watched company after company instead of negotiating, moving production out. Communities went broke as their tax base in both residential and industrial properties dropped like a lead balloon. Some tried to maintain their status by getting two jobs. Some life eh?
When are we going to learn, that so long as we keep reducing wages in the U.S., that our economy will not keep up? Remember the actions of Henry Ford; “his policy proved, however, that paying people more would enable Ford workers to afford the cars they were producing and be good for the economy.”
We have instead, gone backwards, pay our employees less, and degraded the standard of living we used to have. Blame not the few Unions that exist today, blame the workers for settling for less and less, and companies wanting to have the U.S. mimic low wage countries. Most of all, blame the U.S. consumer, who wanted cheap, even if it meant their neighbors loosing their jobs.
Both parties can settle this, and both would come out with at least a bit more than they had.