HeraldNet: Boeing strike indicator? Temporary Machinist jobs on Craigslist



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Aerospace Blog

October 2, 2008

Boeing strike indicator? Temporary Machinist jobs on Craigslist

Contractor seeks workers for 1 to 2 months

Posted at 2:30 pm by Michelle Dunlop

It’s day 27 of the Boeing Machinists strike. And, according to a Craigslist advertisement, the strike may last another one to two months.

One striking union member recently answered a Craigslist advertisement for a temporary HVAC Journey-level technician. Turns out it was for essentially his own job at Boeing. The posting, from a Tacoma-based contractor, promised “BIG TIME OVERTIME!!! 7 day a week 12hrs a day!! For the next 1-2 months …”

Boeing’s spokesman Tim Healy told me that Boeing has brought on temporary workers to fill facilities and janitorial positions.

“One of our priorities is to provide a safe workplace,” Healy said. And the facilities positions allow Boeing to do that. The company employed temporary workers to fill similar jobs in previous strikes, he said.

Is the one- to two- month length of job an indicator of how long Boeing thinks the strike will last?

“I don’t know where they got that,” Healy said.

In addition to the facilities positions, Healy said, Boeing has about a dozen non-union machinists (through contractors) working to help the company reach a “critical milestone for a defense program” (AEW&C).

Machinists’ spokeswoman Connie Kelliher didn’t think the Craigslist advertisement necessarily indicates that Boeing expects the strike to last one to two months. And she wasn’t surprised the company had to bring in temporary facilities staff.

But, Kelliher noted, the members will be angry to find out that Boeing has brought in temporary workers on the defense program.

“They could have the best, most qualified and most experienced workers doing the job – that’s our members,” Kelliher said.

Reader questions: Does the Craigslist ad suggest the Boeing Machinists strike will last another one to two months? What are your thoughts on Boeing bringing in temporary workers?

READER COMMENTS
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Quality is going to be dubious at best.
If they are actually getting any nibbles at this proposed add on the internet (which could very well be a sick joke or prank)then the quality of the work being done by these "off the street" machinists will be dubious if any at best.
Since it is unlikely they are the ones that have made a career of building safe aircraft I would not trust the craftsmanship of the build that they make nor if I were a customer would I buy it.
The preposterous notion that the strike has hurt the reputation of Boeing is steeped only in the fact that the actions and decisions being made by the management are flawed at best.
Thus the reputation of the company lies firmly within its own corporate managements actions, thereby the blamed damages should rest in the hands of the management that threw a wrench into the machinery that feeds the pocketbooks of the overly wealthy in the tower in Chicago many miles away from those who produce it for them.
American Worker | Oct 6, 2008 7:50 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

Temporary Machinist/Strike Indicator
The strike could go on for another month to two.

The truth is, all those talented Machinists are at the mercy of a couple of small groups people who really are not feeling the effects of being with out a pay check. Do they really care?? Only God can know that of what is in there hearts.

Do you like being controlled???? Do you like riding the cyclic up and down turns of the Aero Space Industry? It is not fun and it sucks.

Look at the history of the last 50 years of this industry and more importantly look at the last 27 years. The graph will show that every time there is an up turn and down turn, they more drastically pronounced. They are getting worse every time it cycles.
This was pointed out to me by John Quinalivian, Alan Mulally and many others in a meeting in spring of 2000. The object of the meeting was to stop this increasing cycle of swing.

Has it increased? Yes, just look at the success of the contracts for the 787. Now, look at the financial state of the country.
Looks as if we are in for a another increasing down turn that we have never seen before.
It takes about 6 to 12 months of the effects of the current economy to "trickle down" to the Aero Space Industry. But that may happen sooner than later.

It is coming, and as in 2000 what followed in 2001, it was not stopped.

So yes, there is a good possibility of the strike lasting for a month too two. Sure hope that it does not.
John Quevillon | Oct 4, 2008 8:13 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

(No heading)
You're kidding right?
The money that Boeing is losing could be utilized by actually building airplanes!

They should be back at the table hammering out all those issues that they currently want to ignore! Come back to the table and start talking!!!

This is ridiculous!
CC At the Big B | Oct 2, 2008 7:12 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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