HeraldNet: From the Boeing Machinists’ picket line … UPDATED



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Aerospace Blog

September 4, 2008

The Herald/Michael O'Leary (click to enlarge)

Boeing Machinists Dwight Noren, left, and Don Grinde, picket on Thursday outside the company's gate in Everett.

From the Boeing Machinists’ picket line … UPDATED

Machinists leaders: Be ready to strike on Saturday

Posted at 11:54 am by Michelle Dunlop

Check out The Herald’s photo gallery, with pictures from the last few days of rallies, voting and ballot counting and early morning picketing.

Machinists’ union leaders may not have sanctioned a strike last night, but many of their members hit the picket lines regardless of a 48 hour stay.

“We’re supposed to be on strike,” said Mark Meidinger, a 20-year Boeing employee. “We rejected the contract.”

For several members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers, their vote last night said everything: 87 percent voted to strike the Boeing Co; 80 percent rejected Boeing’s contract.

This morning, many of them hit the picket line even after union leaders asked for two more days to try to reach an agreement with Boeing. Many of the picketing Machinists in Everett say they’re mad both at Boeing and at their own leaders.

“We’re being played by the union, and we’re being played by the company,” said Dwight Noren, who has worked for Boeing 21 years.

Noren is stationed outside Boeing’s factory get in Everett, just across from the Machinists’ union hall. At 10 a.m. Thursday, he held a sign that read “87 percent vote to strike. No contract, no work.”

Noren said Machinists’ leaders Tom Wroblewski and Mark Blondin had no right to give Boeing additional negotiating time when union members told them to strike.

“Their existence as leaders may be short-lived,” he said.

Wroblewski posted a note on the Machinists' Web site early this morning urging members to go to work as normal today.

"We will not sell you out," Wroblewski wrote. "If Boeing does not produce the offer you expect, the strike is still on."

UPDATE

The Machinists union just posted a contract talks update. Union leaders warn their members to remain ready to strike the Boeing Co. at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Machinists' latest video

Boeing's update

Boeing also posted an update this evening. Lead negotiator Doug Kight noted that the company is not bound to reaching an agreement with the union by the end of Friday. But "a swift resolution is in everyone's best interest," Kight wrote.

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