SEATTLE (AP) -- The Boeing Co.'s largest union is scheduled to vote again this week on a contract offer Boeing presented nearly two weeks ago, even though the union is no happier with it now than it was then.þþAnd once again, the leadership of the Machinists is urging members to reject the proposal, first presented Aug. 27, and authorize a strike.þþThe union represents about 25,000 employees in Washington state; Wichita, Kan.; and Portland, Ore., all of whom have been working without a contract since Sept. 1, when the previous agreement expired.þþThough it would provide an increase in wages and a 20 percent boost in monthly pension payments by the contract's third year, the contract also has language that union members fear will lead to further layoffs.þþIn the past year alone, the Machinists have lost 25 percent of their members, largely due to airline industry fallout from the Sept. 11 attacks. The union pushed unsuccessfully for job guarantees that tie employment levels with aircraft deliveries or other business benchmarks.þþMachinists in Wichita and Portland will vote on the offer Thursday, and union members in Washington state -- the largest segment of Machinists -- will vote Friday. Results are expected to be announced Friday night.þþThe Seattle area's rescheduled vote -- for Friday the 13th -- adds an almost comical twist to a soap opera that has been unfolding over the past two weeks, even eliciting groans from a federal mediator who has been monitoring talks since Aug. 15.þþChicago-based Boeing presented its ``best and final'' offer on Aug. 27. The union leadership urged members to reject the contract and authorize strike in its Aug. 29 vote.þþBut the vote was interrupted by a letter from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service's director in Washington, D.C. The letter asked both sides to come to his office, extend the contract and resume negotiations.þþThe union readily agreed, incorrectly advising members the request was an order, and sealed ballots from the vote. The next day, the union acknowledged that the letter had caused confusion among its members, and announced it would hold a new vote.þþBallots from the first vote still haven't been counted.þþBoeing agreed to go to Washington D.C. -- but only to explain its ``best and final'' offer to mediators, not to resume talks.þþUnion negotiators spent the next two and a half days talking with mediators anyway, and the mediators continued talking with Boeing by phone.þþThis week, union members will vote on two issues -- whether to approve the contract and whether to strike. A contract is decided by simple majority. Strike authorization requires a two-thirds approval. If strike authorization fails, the contract is automatically accepted.þþAccording to the union, a strike would cost members some $28.1 million in pay each week, with the majority of the hit coming in the Puget Sound region.þþThe mediator's office does not immediately plan further involvement, said Jeff Clark, a Seattle-based federal mediator.þþ``At this point, it appears that we're just going to sit tight until the union conducts their vote,'' Clark said. ``Our responsibility is to try to minimize job disruption and to help parties find solutions. And as long as there's not a solution, we're available to do that.''þ
Source: NY Times
