EVERETT, Wash., 19 Dec. 2013. A group of machinists marched from Boeing’s facility in Everett, Wash., to the local Aerospace Machinists Union Hall to protest union leaders’ rejection of Boeing’s best and final contract offer.
More than 30 aerospace workers took part in the protest, challenging the decision by International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAMAW, more commonly known as IAM) District 751 to reject Boeing’s most recent offer.
Machinists voiced displeasure with IAMAW District 751 President Tom Wroblewski, who protestors say should have called for a vote of Boeing’s latest offer, rather than denying union members the chance to voice their opinions and letting the majority rule.
“Let us vote” and “give us a vote” were among the chants and signs coming from the crowd of passionate machinists, who demand a vote be held on Boeing’s “best and last” contract proposal, which came last week and was quickly rejected by IAMAW leaders.
The local union in Washington State has been hotly criticized this week among the global aerospace community.
Read about the Boeing offer that union leaders rejected here:
More than 50 U.S. regions compete to build Boeing 777X, as Washington union rejects Boeing offers
-- Washington State works to hold onto Boeing
-- SPEEA wants details on Boeing research restructuring
-- Washington leaders court Airbus in the U.S.
-- Washington Governor Jay Inslee supports union member vote on Boeing contract proposal
-- Machinists march in protest of union leadership’s rejection of Boeing offer
