Boeing is attempting to bargain in the press. It won’t work, and it is detrimental to the bargaining process. Boeing is simply attempting the same old bargaining tactics. They are trying to deal directly with the membership and sow seeds of doubt and division in our Union. They hope to drive a wedge within our Union. There is no chance of that. We are stronger than ever and united on every picket line.
We worked to prepare our members and make them aware of Boeing’s tactics. This May, Boeing locked out its own Firefighters, members of International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local I-66, on International Firefighters Day. Local I-66 was still ready to bargain and working to reach an agreement. Boeing can’t stand any worker that stands up to them and became frustrated with the Firefighters efforts to stand strong for their members. On May 16, Boeing negotiators sent a letter to the homes of every Firefighter to disparage the Union and its bargaining committee and made claims of bad-faith bargaining. We knew the company would do this to the IAM as well.
In June, the IAM prepared our membership for this. At every Local Lodge meeting that month, we shared the letter sent by Boeing to the 125 Firefighters’ homes. We told our members that Boeing would also attempt to disparage the IAM, our negotiating committee, and claim we were not bargaining in good faith. Boeing is using the same old tired tactics of bargaining in the press. Instead of sending letters to our 33,000 members’ homes, they are trying to save postage and send it to the press. While the IAM has filed charges against Boeing to protect our members’ legal rights and force the company to bargain in good faith, Boeing filed these frivolous ULP charges and sent them immediately to the media to bargain only in the press. It won’t work.
Bargaining is hard work, and Boeing keeps walking away from the table. During our three mediated talks, the company has walked away all three times. They gave up and left the FMCS mediators to let us know they had walked away. At the latest talks, they withdrew their offer and then wanted to tell everyone all about it. This weak attempt at a power move will only make it harder to reach an agreement. The fact they are complaining about our proposals shows their desperation and only proves to our members that we are fighting for them. Our members will grow more defiant and more united as they see Boeing continually walk away and quit.
Boeing also claimed in their Oct. 8 update that we made ‘non-negotiable demands’ in mediation. The arrogance of Boeing attempting to define what we can or can’t propose is very revealing. Who are they to say what we can propose in bargaining? We are fighting for our members and their priorities. Any effort to disparage our Union and bargain in the press will not drive us from the priorities set by our membership. Personal attacks sent to the media will never work.
The path to resolve this strike begins at the bargaining table. An unwillingness to stay at the table only prolongs the strike. CEO Ortberg has an opportunity to do things differently instead of the same old tired labor relations threats used to intimidate and crush anyone who stands up to them. Our membership is too powerful for that and is standing on principles. Ultimately, it will be our membership that determines whether any negotiated contract offer is accepted. They want a resolution that is negotiated and addresses their needs. Get back to the bargaining table.
In Unity, Your Union Negotiating Committee
Let's run the clock until Boeing starts crying and come to reasoning...