I read so much about military spending. Given the huge profits that these
military contractors make, it's inexcusable that workers have to fight for
decent pay and fringe benefits.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Loran Bailey [mailto:rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2016 8:42 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; 'Miriam Vieni'
Subject: 'We're fed up with two-tier pay,' say aerospace workers
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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Farmworker convention discusses fights to build union
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