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

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In the Machinists’ Districtr 751 May newsletter, local union President Tom Wroblewski said both the union and Boeinhg are cultivating warmer relations in hopes of avoiding a strikw during the next round ofcontract talks. “Anh enhanced relationship” with Chicago-based Boein g Co. is a “keuy to determining what Boeing’s future will be for this Wroblewski wrote in the monthlgy Aero Mechanic local newsletter ofthe .
Duringt a regular meeting with Boeing leaderxs in Chicagoin April, “considerable time was spent discussingf ways to change the dynamic and improve this relationship so we do not have the same resultz when we negotiate again in 2012,” he wrote. “Both sidess have renewed their commitment to improvingour relationship, because we have a commojn interest in moving forward.” The statements mark a sharlp shift from the more bombastic tone before and during the last Just before the 57-day strike last fall, for the union said Boeing “chosw to bring take-aways in some of the best times in their history. They have insulted and, made this work force very angry.
” The strike, whic h halted production and cost Boeingh anestimated $2 billion, is seen as a tippin g point that could drive Boeinh to shift production to right-to-work state in the Deep South. But the prospecr of warmer relations with the PugetSoun unions, and avoiding a strike next time, could reduced that possibility and keep Boeing here, experts say. While the idea of movinh big Boeing factories mayseem far-fetched, Boeing’s rival Airbue already has moved production — to China.
On May 18, the European plane maker celebrated the flight of the firsg A320 jet assembledin China, not Peter Jacobs, an analyst at Ragen MacKenzi brokerage in Seattle, has long predictedf that Boeing would open a factorg in the Deep South. “The straw that broke the camel’s back was the laborf strike last fall,” he “Boeing is going to seriously considef moving some of its manufacturing and assembly operations to anothed area ofthe U.S. that is more labor-, tax- and But he said the more conciliatory tone coul slow or haltthat move. “I think the unionn reaching out … is the rightr thing to do,” he said. But the same tone must come from too.
And the warmer dialogue will need to be substantial to revers the impacts of the2008 strike, he Both sides “have to make sure that Boeing’s business in Pugeft Sound remains competitive with anyone else in the world,” he said. “That is what is required to keepBoeing Boeing’s other major union, the also supports the new attitude — and said it’ s closer to their own negotiating style. “k understand what they’re trying to do,” said SPEEAz Executive DirectorRay Goforth. “I think they’rde genuine in what they’re trying to do.
I think if Boeinb can reciprocate with thesame spirit, there’s likelgy to be good for both The state also is weighing in. In April, Gov. Chriss Gregoire formed the , made up of memberd from Boeing, the unions, suppliers and otherf leaders. It is to serve as the governor’ws voice to the Legislature in recommending changes in the law to keepaerospac here. In an interview, Wroblewskij said a key step that Machinist leaders and Boeintg executives took at their April meetingz in Chicago was to drop accusationx about the acrimonious strikelast fall.
In the each side blamed the othefr for not trying hard enough to understand the conflictintg viewsabout outsourcing, and for the failure to reacj an agreement sooner. Wroblewski said he felt the improvefd attitude, by both the union and the company, was important enough to discussx inthe newsletter. “I thini I’m sticking my neck out a little bit, but I don’tr mind,” he said. “ I think the membership is wanting to have a better Wroblewski acknowledged that since thestrike he’z felt community pressure about Boeing especially if poor relations continue.
Economic leaders from the South have been clearthat they’xd be only too happy to have Boeing open a commercialk aircraft plant there. “I have had lots of people, at lodgw meetings, saying they like the idea of working togethert withthis company, doing what they can to maintain competitiveness in this area, and maintain jobs,” Wroblewski said. He has heard too, but it seems minor in comparison.