$150/Week Stipend Kicks In Friday

The strike against Boeing by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers turns three weeks old at midnight Friday. That's also the day striking workers will pick up their first strike benefit checks from the union. The weekly payments of $150 will continue as long as the strike lasts.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer spoke with 22-year company veteran Joe White, who will be volunteering to help distribute checks at Green River Community College in Auburn.

When he's working, White makes about $70,000 a year as an electronics specialist in a delivery center. He told the P-I he actually voted to accept Boeing's last contract offer, and had planned on retiring in January. But when the ratification vote went 80-20 against the contract, he was among 87 per cent of union members who voted to strike. He says he's ready for a long one.

"I can go a long time, in excess of a year," White says. "I'll dip into my retirement if I have to."

Doug Kight, Boeing's VP of human resources and chief negotiator in talks with the union, e-mailed company managers Monday to say, "If there was a basis for getting back to the table then we would be there...the union's list of issues, economic and non-economic, remains long and the gaps in our positions are wide."

Boeing is telling customers delays in development and production will be delayed by about the same duration as the strike itself. As the strike continues, it becomes less and less likely the 787 Dreamliner will make its first flight by the end of this year, as had been planned.

(It is noteworthy, however, that the strike may also serve to indirectly help Boeing and its suppliers 'catch up' on development and parts shipments for the airliner... particularly since Boeing is not contractually obligated to reimburse 787 customers for delays caused by strike action -- Ed.)

Also on the horizon, Boeing's contract with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace expires December 1, and officials of that union are saying outsourcing will be just as big an issue for them as it is for the machinists.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.goiam.org