http://themilitant.com/2016/8024/802402.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 80/No. 24 June 20, 2016
(front page)
‘We’re fed up with two-tier pay,’ say aerospace workers
Militant/Mary Martin
International Association of Machinists members picket Triumph Composite
in Spokane, Washington, June 5, demanding end to two-tier wages and
pensions imposed in 2013.
BY MARY MARTIN
SPOKANE, Washington — Union members at Triumph Composite Systems walked
out at the former Boeing plant here May 11, after voting 93 percent in
favor of striking.
The 400 members of International Association of Machinists Local 86 are
fighting to restore pensions for newer workers and end a two-tier wage
scale imposed by the company three years ago. They are also opposing the
company’s proposal to remove the cap on workers’ insurance costs. The
plant produces components for Boeing aircraft interiors.
Picketing June 4, machinist Dwight Devine wore a union T-shirt that read
“One equal team,” opposing the two-tier wages the company imposed in
2013 after union members rejected a concession contract but voted not to
strike. New hires start at a significantly lower rate and never reach
the pay of more senior workers. “The company says it has to cut costs,”
Devine said. “It’s inconceivable for them to take a pay cut or to cut
their profit margin.”
The same contract replaced pensions with a 401(k) retirement savings
scheme for workers hired after 2013.
On June 1 the company published an “Open letter to our employees and the
Spokane community” in the Spokesman Review, in which it defended its
course and declared its willingness to talk to the union.
The IAM sent the company a letter saying it should contact the union,
not the newspaper, if it was ready to talk.
On June 6 signs on the picket line that read “Lockout” replaced the
signs reading “Strike.” Steve Warren, the business agent for Local 86,
told the Militant the union has filed charges with the National Labor
Relations Board accusing the company of unfair labor practices. “We
believe this will result in a determination that this is a lockout,” he
said.
Triumph Group Director of Corporate Communications Michele Long told the
Militant the company had no comment.
Unionists say members of the National Association of Letter carriers,
United Steelworkers and the engineers’ union SPEEA, as well as nurses,
teachers and others visit their picket lines. Local businesses donate
water and food.
The IAM 751 District Council based in Seattle, which includes workers at
Boeing, contributed $100,000 to a hardship fund for the Triumph workers.
“This fight is about stopping the erosion by management of unions across
the country,” said mechanic Greg Buckles. For the past year, he said,
workers in the plant have been wearing union buttons that read, “Have
you started your independent strike fund?” in preparation for the strike.
The company also prepared, and has brought in replacement workers. Every
morning at shift change, unionists line up at the plant gate as five or
six partially filled buses of strikebreakers roll in.
“We are solid. We are finally tired of the way they treat the workers.
Getting back pensions is the number one issue,” said Ryan Van
Valkinburgh, 38, an assembler in the plant. “We also don’t want the
two-tier wages and the health care costs with no limit. And we
definitely don’t want our jobs going to Mexico.” He was referring to the
fact that Triumph has moved some work from Spokane to its plant in Mexico.
Sue Six, 52, has worked at the plant for three years and assembles
ducts. “In 1999 I went to the World Trade Organization protests in
Seattle,” she said. “I’ll never forget a woman from Mexico who gave a
speech about the conditions workers face there, including $2 a day
wages. How can you live on that? That’s why we can’t be saying foreign
workers are ‘taking our jobs.’ We should welcome them and stick together.”
“In a way I have to thank the company for the strike and bringing us
together. Before I didn’t know these people’s names or where they
worked,” Six said, indicating other pickets. “Now we talk every day. Now
we are stronger.”
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