Huge labor win at Boeing - thanks to Obama Administration

[babylonsister]

http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2011/12/huge-labor-win-at-boeing-thanks-to.html

Huge labor win at Boeing - thanks to Obama Administration
Thursday, December 01, 2011 | Posted by rootless_e at 8:17 AM

(Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) has made an early deal with its biggest union for a four-year contract extension, which if ratified would end the planemaker's dispute with the National Labor Relations Board and ensure the new 737 MAX single-aisle plane is built in Washington state.

The agreement was driven by both the organizing of the machinists union and the action of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Boeing had invested in a production facility in "right to work for less" South Carolina, openly stating that this was a response to union activism in Washington State. The law forbids retaliation against workers for exercising their rights to bargain collectively - but under Bush (and Clinton) era appointees, the NLRB had essentially stopped enforcing labor laws. As a result of the revived Obama era NLRB, highly skilled work will stay in Washington State - and as a side effect, boneheaded Boeing management will not be able to destroy the company in their short sighted effort to do without skilled labor and crush the union.

[sharp_stick]

1. Ohhh little Lindsay is gonna be pissed

I'd love to be a fly on the wall in his office when the smokes starts to pour from his ears.

I wonder when he and seemingly always around side kick Joe (Droopy Dog) Lieberman will be out decrying how unfair it all is?

[former9thward]

9. The agreement says the plant in SC will be built as planned.

Republicans in SC are supporting the agreement according to what I read today.

[MineralMan]

2. Thank you, Mr. President!

Good job!

[lumpy]

5. Yea verily. Good news for Washington state workers.

v

[Life Long Dem]

3. Under Clinton the NLRB stopped enforcing labor laws.

Hillary would have carried on by her indication to offshore jobs to India.

[ellisonz]

8. Hey! You're not supposed to be making such statements Life Long Dem!

Bad for the unity :spank:

Sorry! Pink Floyd's Run Like Hell is on the radio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKgOe1Rl8YY

[Life Long Dem]

10. I know...

I did a no no... When I saw the thread sinking I couldn't help it. Probably will still sink but what the heck.

[bigwillq]

4. K and R

:thumbsup:

[MilesColtrane]

6. First the FCC blocks the ATT/T-Mobile merger and now this.

Imagine that.

Government regulatory agencies doing what they're supposed to do.

I thought there wasn't a "dime's worth of diffrence...".

[former9thward]

7. For some reason the OP left out that Boeing will build the South Carolina

plant, as planned, to produce the Dreamliner. That is part of the agreement.

[jenmito]

11. K&R. Where are all the posters who want a 3rd party since Obama is just as bad aa Repubs.? n/t

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. kick, rec

:thumbsup:

[Enrique]

13. "The People's View" is an Obama fan site

you can tell even from that short article (see the part that's not in the OP) that their main interest is putting Obama in a good light and bashing "the left".

I have no problem crediting Obama on labor -- picking Hilda Solis, standing up for the workers at Republic Windows. Maybe this is actually a victory, I don't know.

But please, if we want to know what the meaning of this event is for labor, let's look to credible sources that actually care about the issue and are committed to the labor cause and aren't just spinning in favor of a politician they really really like.

For example, here's In These Times' take:

http://inthesetimes.org/working/entry/12351/nlrb_shutdown_averted_boeing_case_settled_attacks_on_nlrb_continue/

(...)

In other news—but very much related to the NLRB being a target of Republicans—the Machinists Union (IAM) and Boeing have settled their dispute, which resulted in a high-profile NLRB complaint filed against Boeing for illegal retailiation against striking union members. The IAM and the company reached agreement on a new four-year contract, which contains language ensuring that production of the 737 Max airliner will be in Renton, Wash.

IAM District Lodge 751 President Tom Wroblewski said that "if union members vote to approve the deal in the coming weeks, the union would inform the NLRB that it has no further grievances with Boeing,” the AP reported. The contract agreement was reached 10 months before the union's current contract with Boeing expires, which is highly unusual. The contract also reportedly allows for pay and benefit increases over its four years.

NLRB General Counsel Lafe Solomon said: “The tentative agreement announced today between Boeing and the Machinists Union is a very significant and hopeful development. The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by the employees, and, if ratified, we will be in discussions with the parties about the next steps in the process."

A Boeing spokesman "called the new contract with the union 'a starting point of a new relationship' with the union," the AP reported.

(...)

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. But wait...the ODSers here on DU keep telling us that Obama=Bush!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x824580

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2407101

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2405939&mesg_id=2405939

[sad sally]

15. Boeing got $3 billion in tax breaks in our State last year, now the

State is facing a $5-8 billion shortfall, which mean major cuts in health care, school subsidies and other social programs. It's a nice warm fuzzy to talk about how the jobs they create, but the tax breaks the states legislators give them are at the expense of the rest of us.

Boeing is also a major contributor to Washington State Incumbents
According to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, Boeing also spent another $350,000 in 2010 bribing incumbents in the Washington State legislature. Among its many legislative recipients were 24 Repubilicans (including 5th LD Glenn Anderson) and 10 Conservative Democrats including 45th LD State Rep Larry Springer. Boeing also donated to non-incumbents in 2010: Andy Hill (R-45) Kevin Hastings (R-45). In addition, Boeing donated up to $10,000 each to the House and Senate and State Republican and Democratic Committees – all of which are used to re-elect incumbents. Boeing also donated $75,000 to defeat Initiative 1098 (High Earners Income Tax) and $100,000 to the Initiative to Privatize Workers Comp. SOURCE: http://www.pdc.wa.gov