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Boeing News
Boeing, machinists’ union still far apart on contract
Interpretation of the Union’s argument: What’s the point in a raise over 3 years if your job wont be there in 2? Boeing needs to look beyond the F-15, the C-17, and the Delta IV rocket and other aging programs and find long-term contracts that don’t require endless war to be sustainable.
-PEP-
St. Louis Business Journal
8/27/08
Boeing Co. and the International Association of Machinists are still far apart on issues regarding a new contract.
On Tuesday, Boeing (NYSE: BA) presented a new offer to the union, including proposed wage hikes of 9 percent over three years, but union officials countered later that there are still “deal breakers on the table” and “the company needs to get serious about these issues or they are going to have a work stoppage on their hands.”
Boeing said its latest contract offer includes a 4 percent pay hike in the first year, a 2.5 percent hike in the second and a 2.5 percent hike in the third year. The company also said it was increasing its pension offer by $78 per month for each year of service, “the highest pension benefit in the aerospace industry.”
Boeing said it will make a “best and final offer before the Labor Day weekend” and added that “it’s critically important that each employee understand how the best and final offer affects them, and it’s important that employees vote in their best interest on Sept. 3,” the contract ratification date.
The Machinists union quickly fired back a retort, saying that “deal breakers” include “eliminating retiree medical benefits for future hires and rehires who have been gone longer than six years” and “zero improvements on job security.”
Boeing’s latest offer is “still far below the expectations of our members,” according to the union, which said it would present a full counter proposal to Boeing on Wednesday.
Boeing donates $1M to MLK memorial
I hope that Boeing executives genuinely consider all the words of Dr King as they make this donation. In particular, I am thinking of his role as a labor advocate (Boeing and the Machinists’ Union are currently at odds) and his voice for peace and non-violence. What would Dr King think about a company that made over $30 Billion on implements of war last year donating money in his name?
I cannot say, but I think he might consider looking the gift-horse in the mouth.
“When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” Beyond Vietenam 4/4/1967
PEP thanks Boeing for their generous contribution to the memory of this great leader and we hope they embrace all of his ideals.
-PEP-
St. Louis Business Journal
08/27/08
Boeing will donate $1 million toward building a lasting memorial to Dr. King on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
James Bell, corporate president, chief financial officer and executive vice president, made the announcement at a breakfast Boeing sponsored Thursday at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Some 1,000 civil rights and faith leaders, government officials and others attended the event.
"As a result of the generous donation by Boeing, the Memorial Foundation has reached the $100 million fundraising mark and we continue to move forward with excitement as we set forth to raise the remaining $20 million needed to build the memorial," said Harry Johnson Sr., the foundation’s president and chief executive.