October 2009 751 AERO MECHANIC Page
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October 2009 751 AERO MECHANIC Page VOL. 64 NO. 9 OCTOBER 2009 Members ‘Coordinate’ New Process WTO Ruling Boeing Co. managers have turned to process, the Company is Could Give a team of experts to help develop a new utilizing the experience process for customer coordinators in and knowledge of Cus- Boeing Upper Everett, after initial process changes were tomer Coordinators . being reviewed by management for “We got off to a bad Hand for Tanker implementation. start,” Schuessler ac- Who are those experts? They are Dis- knowledged. “The team by Rosanne Tomyn trict 751 members who do the actual got it and didn’t like it.” On September 4 a controversial, work as liaisons between assembly work- “When it was first pro- yet expected, preliminary ruling was ers and airplane customers. moted to us, it had the made by the World Trade Organiza- By working with the Union and ask- feel that it was coming tion (WTO) that found European ing workers for their ideas, the Company whether we liked it or Union “launch aid” loans given to hopes to improve the Quality Assurance not,” said John Dyas, a Airbus were actually illegal subsi- process by identifying minor defects District 751 member and dies. After years of fighting to en- earlier in the process before the Cus- a team leader for the 777 sure that American tax dollars go to tomer inspections , said Susan Schuessler, customer coordinators in an American made Air Force Tanker, the Quality Director for 747, 767 and Everett. “We weren’t the ruling could prove positive for 777s in Everett. consulted, so of course the many Machinists members that “We want them to come up with an we were offended.” 751 member John Dyas and Business Rep Ray have proven themselves capable of Baumgardner are working with management to idea, try it for a week, see if it works and Steward Galyn building a superior aircraft. improve customer coordination on the 777 line. report back,” she said. “If it doesn’t Rusher was concerned Wasting no time, Senator Patty make the customer happy and doesn’t the Customer Coordinators were not in- 14 years ago when both were on the shop Murray was quick to draft a letter to make the work more efficient, it prob- volved enough in the proposed change floor. She agreed there was a miscom- President Obama after the decision ably isn’t the right process.” and that the change would eliminate a munication regarding the change, and was made public. A long time advo- The new effort to work together started Quality inspection. Galyn brought the the participation of the Customer Coor- cate for aerospace workers in Wash- in August and grew out of a desire to matter to the attention of Union Business dinators was imperative. ington, she wrote: change the way Customer Coordinators Rep Ray Baumgardner. “We were trying to thrill the customer “For too long, American aero- in Everett do their jobs. In an effort to Baumgardner took up the matter with by solving problems as a team,” she said. space workers have struggled to com- identify minor defects earlier in the build Schuessler, who had been his supervisor Continued on page 4 Continued on page 4 Member Joe Tindall is Union Ensures Proper Promotion proud to help build After 32 years as an active Union member and Union their job title work at DC, they specifically mentioned custom leader, Dan Meddaugh continues to see the value in those two locations by name and were assured it was farm Union membership. Recently, with help and support covered. equipment from the Union, Meddaugh received the proper upgrade at Several weeks later, Meddaugh heard of a Grade 11 Edwards and 29 days back pay for the time he should have held opening at DC and was shocked to learn that he was not Equipment. at a Grade 11 position. in the pool for consideration – even though he would Business Rep Heather Barstow and Union Steward have been the senior candidate. Unfortunately, HR had Jeff Rose ensured that Meddaugh received the upgrade given him an outdated form from 2003 and bad infor- he was entitled to, but mation about his con- also used documenta- sideration for all lo- Union Pride at tion to get him 29 days cations. of back pay after Thankfully, Boeing Human Re- Meddaugh had a wit- Edwards Equipment sources (HR) made an ness to the conversa- Our members at Edwards Equipment, located in Union error and did not file tion with HR. As a Gap, Wash. are very proud of the specialized equipment his Category B (pro- Union officer and Dis- they manufacture. Since the 1940’s, this family-owned motion) rights for all trict Council Del- business has produced dependable, specialized agriculture locations. egate, Meddaugh un- and industrial equipment and built a solid reputation for The issue arose derstands the impor- quality and reliability. Just as important as product reputa- when Meddaugh and tance of documenta- tion is their reputation as a good place to work. another member went tion to prove a case. The IAM has had a contract with Edwards Equip- to HR to file their Cat- After Union Stew- ment since 1956, and it is a relationship that works well egory B paperwork to ard Jeff Rose com- for all parties involved – employees, union, manage- be eligible for promo- piled excellent docu- ment and ownership. As a result, employees tend to stay tion. The HR rep mentation, Business there for a long time once hired. handed them a form L to R: Union Steward Jeff Rose and Business Rep Heather Rep Heather Barstow Barstow helped ensure Dan Meddaugh not only received his “When I heard of an opening at Edwards, I applied made of carbon copy. presented the facts to promotion but the 29 days back pay he was due. because I knew it was a good place to work,” stated Realizing that most Boeing’s Union Re- Union Steward Dale Glaspey. “There is an atmosphere carbon copy forms have been eliminated at Boeing, lations who agreed the situation needed to be remedied. of mutual respect between workers, management and Meddaugh questioned if this was the proper form. In In the meantime, another Grade 11 position opened ownership. It is a close-knit company, which is hard to addition to verifying the form, he and the other member up in Auburn – where Meddaugh was working. Union find anymore. I really enjoy working here.” emphasized they would like to be considered for all Relations agreed to give Meddaugh the upgrade at his While it may be a small shop – with just eight locations, which included both Seattle and Develop- current location in Auburn. Barstow then was able to members – their products have made a big impact on the mental Center (DC). Because a majority of members in Continued on page 5 Continued on page 12 Contract Saves Benefits Accessing Ratification Inside Index Boeing’s announced changes on Sept. 25 President's Message ......2 regarding their Learning Together Program History City of Woodinville Politican Action.............. 3 (LTP) apply to salaried non-union employ- Aero Mechanic employees vote to Voting Endorsements ... 3 ees only. There are no changes to the IAM/ newspaper now ratify first contract Labor History ................. 8 Boeing Joint Programs Education Assistance available through online Retirement...................... 9 Program because we have a Union contract archives back to 1939 52 Want Ads ........................10 in place. Eastern Washington .... 12 Page 2 751 AERO MECHANIC October 2009 REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT Machinists Should Build New Air Force Tankers by Tom Wroblewski, the next generation of Air Force way street. We’ve got members – like a thousand other members working at 40 District President tankers. We’ve already been lining Marion Lauck, who retired last month companies across Washington and Idaho CEOs come go at the up support in the business commu- after 56 years – who have been building jet – supporting men and women who do Boeing Co., but one issue nity and with local elected officials, airplanes since the days when Bill Allen important and interesting work at transit seems to hang on forever and we’re working with our friends and T.A. Wilson ran this company. They’ve agencies, agricultural equipment shops, – the U.S. Air Force tanker in Congress too. seen it all, and done it all. Our members are even Hanford. contract. I’m confident that the Air Force smart and experienced and they have ideas I’ve directed our District communi- As this month’s will make the right decision this – practical ideas, not business school theo- cations staff to pay closer attention to the AeroMechanic was going time. ries – about ways this company could run issues that involve our non-Boeing mem- to press, we were waiting for the Air But speaking of executives who come more efficiently. Managers need to listen bers, which will include more Force to release its draft proposal for yet and go, most of our members got a new to them and learn from them, too. AeroMechanic stories, and a new Ma- another round of tanker bidding between boss last month, when Jim Albaugh re- The Company has a long way to go chinists News newsletter for eastern Boeing and the Airbus/Northrop placed Scott Carson as president of when it comes to showing respect for its Washington. Grumman team. Boeing Commercial Airplanes. workers. Many of you are routinely work- Whether we’re building airplanes, Our International Union officers are I didn’t know Jim Albaugh before ing 12-hour days and six-day weeks trying repairing buses or making tractor parts, making a strong push on your behalf, writ- this, and after one brief getting-to-know to get programs like the 787 back on track.