Strike has big risks for Boeing, union

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008149181_boeing31.html

Sunday, August 31, 2008

As the Machinists union and Boeing management stare each other down over the contract vote Wednesday, the stakes are high.

By Dominic Gates

Seattle Times aerospace reporter

As the Machinists union and Boeing management stare each other down over the contract vote Wednesday, the stakes are high for the company, its customers and its suppliers — and also for the union leadership and rank-and-file workers.

On Friday, the International Association of Machinists rejected Boeing's final contract offer and recommended a strike. Union officials have already prepared burn barrels and picket signs for those who would be on the picket lines.

"All that's been done," said Mark Blondin, the IAM's national aerospace coordinator, who led the union negotiating team. "We're ready to go."

Boeing declined to discuss the potential impact of a strike. It hopes to persuade at least a third of the voting Machinists to accept the contract and so avoid a strike, which requires a two-thirds majority.

But if the Machinists do strike, the effects would ripple out around the world:

Boeing would miss hundreds of millions of dollars in profits this year.

FULL story at link.

It will let Boeing's suppliers catch up and if the strike lasts a certain amount of time (45 days?) they can't be held responsible for delivery delays.