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Boeing machinists rally before contract vote

05:31 PM PDT on Sunday, August 24, 2008

By GLENN FARLEY / KING 5 News

SEATTLE - The machinists union at Boeing flexed its muscles on Sunday, as talks on a new contract enter their last full week before a vote. Right now, union negotiators say three strike issues remain on the table.

Video: Boeing machinists rally before contract vote
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The last two rounds of negotiations were carried out in the wake of layoffs and downsizing.  This time, the company is booming, and a strike could force yet another delay in the delivery of the Dreamliner.

"We have to get it now. That's the way it's got to be. It's our time this time," said Boeing machinist Mark Holzschuh.

And a strike is familiar territory for many of the workers.

"I've been through I think like three," said Charles Robinson.

Two big issue for union members is that company proposals would take away the traditional pension for future hires, offering 401k-style retirement plans. Future hires would not get medical coverage if they retired early.

John LaBlanc and Antoinette Young both work in Everett.

"The problem is, we have a pretty intelligent work force right now, And I don't think they'll fall for it," said LeBlanc.

"We're pumping out airplanes like crazy. And it's going to be awful quiet in there without us," said Young.

Mark Blondin is the local union's former president, now its main negotiator.  

"If we don't fix the outsourcing language, if we don't ensure that everybody who's here as well as everybody's who's going to be here gets medical insurance as well as pension, there's going to be a shutdown," he said.

When Blondin was president of Machinist District 751, he lead members on a 28 days strike, just three years ago.

The company kept a low profile Sunday, but it has been saying it know it needs to raise wage and the money, but also cites the competitive battle with airbus and trends in U.S. industry away from things like traditional pensions.

If it comes to a strike, it would start one minute after midnight on Sept. 4.

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