Quote:
Originally Posted by lendaddy
Can someone tell these idiots that you make hay while the sun is shining?
|
Did you not notice that's precisely what they are doing? First, the contract ended. That is part of the "timing" thing. Also, the union notices that Boeing has been making quite a bit of money and will probably make much more. $4B last year, I think.
I think it's about a toss-up whether 11% over 3 years will or will not keep up with inflation. With the price of fuel lately, my sense is that 11% is probably a good estimate of expected inflation over the next three years. If that is the case, then Boeing is offering its workers a 0% increase in real wages. And you guys think that is just SOOOO unfair to Boeing.
Highly skilled workers are needed to actually build airliners. Nobody (except perhaps some of you guys here.....I never know what you're going to confess to believing) disagrees with that. The real issue in these negotiations is outsourcing for the production of parts and components. That is a different issue, and a different group of workers, different skill level.
And finally......I've been arguing with other conservatives besides you guys and the issue of Americans and patriotism and pride and competition has come up there. Predictably, the conservatives are on the side of dooming America on the basis that Americans are not sufficiently bright, hard-working or creative. The assumption that American workers should take it in the shorts on wages in order to protect the competitive position of their benevolent employers........is the position that America is doomed to be victims of the 'global marketplace' because their productivity does not, and cannot, warrant their wage levels. We liberals do not share your low opinion of America and its workers. Boeing workers placed Boeing at the top of the international heap of airplane manufacturers. If Boeing thinks it can retain or recapture that position by replacing their American workers with folks in India, then Boeing will get what Boeing deserves.