Support the IAM strike at Boeing !!
Picket in Renton and Everett Washington and on East Marginal Way in Seattle . Why did workers go on strike? See leaflet by rank and file machinists:
Report on Boeing Strike 2nd day , 9/14/24:
About 10 International Association of Machinists (IAM) members picketed across from the Museum of Flight on the 9400 Block of East Marginal Way. . Picketers were appreciative of the support and open to talking about the issues of the strike. The strikers were angry at what they consider a poor offer. One striker had only worked for 6 months at Boeing and was on the lowest rung of the pay scale. He made in the $17–19 range. This is disgraceful, not much above minimum wage and lower than he is paid at another non-union job! Unions undercut their ability to organize new workers if they don’t win significantly better wages and conditions than non-union employers.
Another major issue is pensions. In 2014, the defined benefit pension plan was eliminated and replaced by a 401 K at the demand of Boeing and the cooperation of the top union leaders. They had to hold a second election when the workers at first voted down the proposal to eliminate pensions. The second election was held over Xmas break when many members were out of town.
SPEEA (Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace) is supportive and has been picketing with the IAM. Due to anti-solidarity labor practices and contract provisions, the other unions are forbidden to strike in support of the IAM. The strikers seemed to accept this situation and appreciated the support from SPEEA on the line. When the Boeing firefighters were on strike earlier this Summer, neither IAM nor SPEEA honored their picket lines. This is obviously something that needs to be challenged all along the line in the labor movement.
With 33,000 strikers and no expected direct scabbing on the jobs of IAM members, the picket schedule for each member is light. Shifts are 4 hours at a time. One striker said he only has to picket one shift a week. It seems that supporters are unlikely to run into the same strikers again even at the same picket site, though perhaps there could be repeats at the exact same location and time one week later.
The strikers don’t have pressing needs right now, but can use wood for their burn barrels and of course strikers always appreciate food.
Helping the IAM win the best contract possible is of course important to workers in the Seattle area and well beyond. Since Boeing is one of the largest employers in the area, whatever the IAM wins will impact wages and conditions for workers all over ! A victory for one is indeed a victory for all !
Come out and picket with the IAM ! Solidarity !!
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