Tue, Aug 19, 2008
Union Compares Venue To "Hotel California" -- But Not As
Enjoyable
"It's a lockdown." That's how
International Association of Machinists (IAM) leader Tom Wroblewski
terms a planned meeting this Thursday between union leaders and
executives at Boeing, where they hope to hash out a new contract
and avoid a crippling strike.
The Seattle Times reports the meeting will begin Thursday night,
at the DoubleTree Hotel at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Or, as Wroblewski calls it, the "Hotel California," likening the
venue to the classic Eagles song where "you can never leave."
"It's not quite as enjoyable as the song," added Wroblewski.
The meeting marks the final opportunity for both sides to agree
on a new contract for 26,000 machinists at Boeing, most of them in
Washington. If history is any indication, that process won't be
easy... as in the last 20 years, the union has struck Boeing three
times, came close to striking once, and approved two deals by
majority vote.
"This is a very tense, emotional process," said Doug Kight,
Boeing's top labor negotiator. "You are always drained when you are
done... Boeing has been successful and employees deserve to share
in that success. We also need to make sure we can sustain that
success."
As ANN reported, the two sides began talks in
May. Both Kight and Wroblewski said they're eager to move on from
past strife... though machinists represented by IAM don't seem
optimistic that will actually happen.
"They ask: 'How long are we going to be on strike?'" said
Wroblewski. "My job is to negotiate you a contract, not negotiate a
strike."
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