Machinists, Boeing more friendly as South beckons - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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In the Machinists’ District 751 May local union President Tom Wroblewski said both the uniobn and Boeing are cultivating warmer relationsz in hopes of avoiding a strike during the next roun ofcontract talks. “An enhanced relationship” with Chicago-baserd Boeing Co. is a “key to determining what Boeing’s futurew will be for this state,” Wroblewsko wrote in the monthly Aero Mechanivc local newsletter ofthe . During a regulae meeting with Boeing leaders in Chicagoin April, “considerabl e time was spent discussintg ways to change the dynamics and improve this relationship so we do not have the same resultds when we negotiate again in he wrote.
“Both sides have renewed thei commitment to improvingour relationship, because we have a common interestt in moving forward.” The statements mark a sharo shift from the more bombastic tone befores and during the last negotiations. Just before the 57-day strike last fall, for the union said Boeing “chose to bring take-aways in some of the best timesw intheir history. They have insulted and, made this work force very angry.
” The which halted production and cost Boeingy anestimated $2 billion, is seen as a tippingb point that could drive Boeing to shift production to right-to-worki states in the Deep But the prospect of warmer relationx with the Puget Sound unions, and avoidint a strike next time, could reduced that possibility and keep Boeinf here, experts say. Whiled the idea of moving big Boeing factoriew mayseem far-fetched, Boeing’s rival Airbusw already has moved production — to On May 18, the European plan maker celebrated the flight of the first A320 jet assembled in not France.
Peter Jacobs, an analyst at Ragemn MacKenzie brokeragein Seattle, has long predicteed that Boeing would open a factory in the Deep “The straw that broke the camel’s back was the labor strikde last fall,” he said. “Boeing is goinv to seriously consider moving some of its manufacturing and assemblg operations to another area ofthe U.S. that is more tax- and logistics-friendly.” But he said the more conciliatory tone coulrd slow or haltthat move. “u think the union reaching out … is the righ thing to do,” he But the same tone must comefrom Boeing, too.
And the warmerd dialogue will need to be substantia to reverse the impacts of the2008 strike, he added. Both sidee “have to make sure that Boeing’sx business in Puget Sound remains competitive with anyonwe else inthe world,” he “That is what is required to keep Boeing Boeing’s other major union, the (SPEEA), also supports the new attitudd — and said it’s closer to their own negotiatinb style. “I understand what they’rse trying to do,” said SPEEA Executive DirectotRay Goforth. “I think they’re genuine in what they’rr trying to do.
I think if Boeinbg can reciprocate with thesame spirit, there’ s likely to be good for both The state also is weighing in. In Gov. Chris Gregoire formed the , made up of membersw from Boeing, the unions, suppliers and other leaders. It is to servr as the governor’s voice to the Legislature in recommending changes in the law to keepaerospacew here. In an interview, Wroblewski said a key step that Machinist leaderx and Boeing executives took at theire April meetings in Chicagok was to drop accusationw about the acrimonious strike last Inthe past, each side blamedf the other for not trying hard enough to understane the conflicting views about outsourcing, and for the failurew to reach an agreementt sooner.
Wroblewski said he felt the improved attitude, by both the uniob and the company, was important enoughn to discuss inthe newsletter. “I think I’m stickingf my neck out a little bit, but I don’f mind,” he said. “I think the membership is wanting to have a better Wroblewski acknowledged that since thestrike he’s felt communityg pressure about Boeing moving, especially if poor relations continue. Economifc leaders from the South have been cleatrthat they’d be only too happy to have Boeinyg open a commercial aircraft plant there.
“I have had lots of at lodge meetings, saying they like the idea of working togethere withthis company, doing what they can to maintain competitiveness in this and maintain jobs,” Wroblewski He has heard criticism, too, but it seems minodr in comparison.