Boeing workers: Easy for Albaugh to discuss wage demands
SEATTLE -- The upper brass at Boeing gave a tough talk on Tuesday, saying avoiding strikes would equal job security for the workers.
The Machinist union contract doesn't expire until 2012, but the union says its just not that simple.
Boeing's commercial airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh told the Seattle Times saving jobs in the Puget Sound comes down to money and no strikes. But the first time Albaugh spoke about the company's future in Washington was when KOMO News confronted him in South Carolina.
"Hey, Washington state is our home. It's going be our headquarters for a lot of years to come, and we're going to be designing airplanes and building airplanes there for a long time," he said.
But now he says there's a catch to keeping Boeing jobs here. Albaugh told the Times Boeing's Washington machinists will have to moderate their pay demands and say no to a strike.
"We certainly believe we can get there on no strikes. If there were no takeaways ever put on the table, I would bet there would never be a strike," said one Machinist.
Boeing's disdain for work stoppages is no secret.
When Boeing broke ground in South Carolina, state leaders and Boeing workers said a hefty financial incentive package got the company's attention, but insist it was workers dumping their union that sealed the deal.
"I think it had a lot to with the union, us not being a union and voting our union out," said Chris Mercer, an inspector mechanic in South Carolina.
As for the wage issue, 787 workers in South Carolina said the starting salary was $14 an hour. Washington 787 machinists start at $15, and they can top out in six years at $30.75.
"There's a lot of room we can work together on," said Connie Kelliher, spokesperson for the local 751 Machinists.
The Machinist think if Albaugh does what he told the Times, the company will outsource jobs less and less frequently, and they could reach common ground.
Outsourcing delayed test flights and deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner for more than two years
"The biggest point of contention has been the outsourcing. Them admitting it's a problem -- that's a major step along the way," said Kelliher.
Albaugh also repeated what he told KOMO News in November -- he prefers to keep the work in Washington, but there are no gimmes.
"It's all about competitiveness. It's all about being able to sell airplanes," he said.
Albaugh was not available for comment on Tuesday.
The Machinists thought it was ironic that Albaugh was critical of wage demands. They say he got a $3 million bonus last week.
The Machinist union contract doesn't expire until 2012, but the union says its just not that simple.
Boeing's commercial airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh told the Seattle Times saving jobs in the Puget Sound comes down to money and no strikes. But the first time Albaugh spoke about the company's future in Washington was when KOMO News confronted him in South Carolina.
"Hey, Washington state is our home. It's going be our headquarters for a lot of years to come, and we're going to be designing airplanes and building airplanes there for a long time," he said.
But now he says there's a catch to keeping Boeing jobs here. Albaugh told the Times Boeing's Washington machinists will have to moderate their pay demands and say no to a strike.
"We certainly believe we can get there on no strikes. If there were no takeaways ever put on the table, I would bet there would never be a strike," said one Machinist.
Boeing's disdain for work stoppages is no secret.
When Boeing broke ground in South Carolina, state leaders and Boeing workers said a hefty financial incentive package got the company's attention, but insist it was workers dumping their union that sealed the deal.
"I think it had a lot to with the union, us not being a union and voting our union out," said Chris Mercer, an inspector mechanic in South Carolina.
As for the wage issue, 787 workers in South Carolina said the starting salary was $14 an hour. Washington 787 machinists start at $15, and they can top out in six years at $30.75.
"There's a lot of room we can work together on," said Connie Kelliher, spokesperson for the local 751 Machinists.
The Machinist think if Albaugh does what he told the Times, the company will outsource jobs less and less frequently, and they could reach common ground.
Outsourcing delayed test flights and deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner for more than two years
"The biggest point of contention has been the outsourcing. Them admitting it's a problem -- that's a major step along the way," said Kelliher.
Albaugh also repeated what he told KOMO News in November -- he prefers to keep the work in Washington, but there are no gimmes.
"It's all about competitiveness. It's all about being able to sell airplanes," he said.
Albaugh was not available for comment on Tuesday.
The Machinists thought it was ironic that Albaugh was critical of wage demands. They say he got a $3 million bonus last week.