Cog in the machine...

Needless to say, the confusion surrounding the potential sale to Onex has raised many unanswered questions and concerns. Here's one sent to Debbie Logsdon, who chairs SPEEA's Midwest Region:

Debbie the news clip that I was talking about is dated 3/3/05 and titled "Boeing Machinists expect pink slips." And the last paragraph in question is " Onex must keep the unions, but it has the power to renegotiate the contracts, or even impose employment conditions" It is the last part of this that has raised a flag...

There's nothing here over which to panic, because this pretty much describes our current relationship with Boeing.

1) Onex must keep the unions. Yes, that's true. As I recall the ballot from the WTPU election a few years back, the vote was "For purposes of collective bargaining, I wish to be represented by: SPEEA or No Union." The employer -- whichever Employer that may be -- must recognize that we are protected by a union contract and must negotiate with our respective unions as our contract bargaining agent.

2) Onex has the power to renegotiate the contracts. Big deal... so do the unions. This is a contract between two parties and when one party -- the Boeing Employer in this case -- no longer exists, we'll need a new contract with the next Employer party. The unions could demand renegotiation just as easily as can the proposed Employer.

3) Onex can even impose employment conditions." Well, yes and no. It would depend upon their legal status as a "perfectly clear" successor: if the majority of employees the successor has working on Day One weren't represented by a union at the previous employer, they may be allowed to "impose employment conditions" on Day One But they still must sit down and do some "good faith" bargaining with the unions and try to negotiate a contract. And then, much like with Boeing now, the TurnerCo can implement all, parts, or none of their last Best And Final Offer when we strike for what we deserve. On Day One, if necessary (now rumored to be the middle of April, regardless of what my WARN may say).

The overlooked part in this "what Onex can do" story is that Onex also had the power to assume the current contracts, whole, protecting current compensation and its multiplier effect through the local economy. So why isn't the local press asking "why not?"


-- Bill, who'd think the So-Called Liberal Media should be all over this story, writing nothing but praise for unions and The Worker, to help their comrades in Organized Labor...