VOL. 75 NO. 9 OCTOBER 2020 Union Helps Ensure Reinstatement of Inspections Not OK to Cut QA Remains Union about concerns they had over the removal of thousands of inspections from Our Message the manufacturing/production process. Our Union’s relentless work to protect District 751 President Jon Holden, along the build process and quality of Boeing with Grievance Coordinator Dan Swank, airplanes is making some headway and have also been a driving factor in this recently scored a victory. In September, effort. as a result of our Union’s efforts through “From the start we have raised our Verification Optimization (VO) concerns about removing inspections union reps, Boeing reinstated more than – particularly on close tolerance holes 6,600 close tolerance hole inspections which is a critical part of the build mainly on the 767 and 777 airplane lines. process – but Boeing wasn’t listening to These close tolerance inspections in us. Thanks to efforts from our Everett VO Everett alone equal a work package for Reps and the FAA, Boeing is reinstating more than 100 of our Quality Assurance these inspections,” said Holden. “This is inspectors whose sole purpose is to a big deal, and I appreciate our VO reps protect the integrity of the airplane and advocating on many fronts to make this the production process. happen. We will continue pushing for Credit goes to our VO Reps in Everett: this in other areas of the build process Union efforts helped reinstate more than 6,600 inspections on close tolerance Lloyd Catlin, Dave Bryant and Travis because our goal remains to protect the holes on the 767 and 777 lines. Above: Union VO Reps Travis Kendrick, Dave Bryant and Lloyd Catlin examine some of these holes pointed out by Steward Kendrick, as well as all our stewards and integrity of Boeing airplanes and save Dan Huntington who was one of our inspectors voicing concerns about the members who brought information to the Continued on Page 3 removal of inspections and providing the union with documentation. South Carolina 787 Consolidation Another Bad Decision After Boeing announced it would concerns and attempt District 751’s alternative proposal consolidate 787 production in South course correction of showed the economic benefits of not just Carolina, IAM District 751 President Jon poor management maintaining production in Everett, but the Holden issued the following statement: decisions to protect added benefit of our members sharing best “IAM District 751 believes this is the the integrity of the practices with South Carolina workers, wrong decision and just another in a string airplanes and the while bringing those workers under our of bad decisions Boeing has made that industry. This ability District 751 contract with Boeing so we fails to capitalize on the strengths of our should be looked all work to the same standards of safety, workforce. Boeing leaders discount the at as a positive; quality and productivity, along with all the efficiency, quality and productivity of our however, Boeing only protections contained in our agreement. Puget Sound workforce. Once again, this sees it as conceding These protections would allow union Company fails to take into account all the control rather than L to R: 751 Work Transfer Reps Steve Morrison and Mike members in South Carolina to raise benefits Washington State offers in support ensuring a quality Hill discuss our Union’s alternative proposal to maintain their hand and point out quality issues of training programs, higher education, product. 787 production in Everett with 751 President Jon Holden. impacting production in South Carolina. research and innovation, infrastructure, We will continue Boeing rejected this, which we believe is just another bad Our Union will push for Boeing to and continued tax incentives. Additionally, working to bring decision that will hurt Boeing in the long term. launch the new mid-market airplane and favoring a non-union site is only about aerospace work entitled the 2019 Aerospace Competitive capitalize on the workforce, capacity and control of the workforce, nothing more. to this region because our members and Economics Study (ACES) used to rank each resources in Washington to ensure success Boeing can’t stand the idea that those who our communities have demonstrated why state’s manufacturing capabilities using and help Boeing gain back market share design and build the aircraft, who are the our state has the most efficient, productive dozens of metrics that matter to companies they have lost to Airbus because of gaps heart and soul of the manufacturing process, aerospace manufacturing facilities in the making siting decisions. Washington State in their product offering. This must be a have rights. Boeing doesn’t respect that our world. This has been validated in the objective remains far and above the best place for top priority to ensure our mutual success members have the ability to stand up, voice study completed by Richard Aboulafia aerospace design and manufacturing.” long into the future. Health Care Protected for Members Considered High Risk Thanks to swift action by our Union, throughout the duration of Governor regard to high-risk employees. Boeing were in danger of lapsing their medical members considered at high risk (as Inslee’s State of Emergency declaration had erroneously charged our high-risk coverage had their health care reinstated defined by the Centers for Disease because of the COVID pandemic. members full COBRA rates after 90 days without disruption, again only paying Control) who have been on leave for Our Union challenged Boeing on this on leave – which directly conflicts with the the monthly active contribution rate. longer than 90 days will continue to simply issue in late August after it came to our Governor’s order. Rather than accepting This will last through the duration of the pay their active employee contribution attention that Boeing was in violation Boeing was correct on this issue, several current Governor’s State of Emergency. rates to continue their medical coverage of Governor’s Proclamation 20-46 in members contacted our Health and Benefits IAM Health and Benefits Reps Les office, who then involved District President Mullen and Christine Fullerton helped Jon Holden and Staff Attorney Spencer many of these members ensure they Thal to resolve the issue. had continuous coverage so they did not Boeing has indicated this impacted have to navigate the frustrating Worklife 46 IAM members who since have gotten situation on their own. their coverage corrected, but any other Our Union continues to fight for all members who believe they are in the same members during this global pandemic situation and need assistance in correcting to ensure your contractual rights are it, should contact our Health and Benefits protected, proper personal protective Staff attorney Spencer Thal (l) and 751 President Jon Holden enforced the office by calling 206-764-0350. equipment is provided, workplace safety Governor’s Proclamation to continue health coverage during the pandemic for Members in this situation who already procedures are followed, and all of the high-risk members on leave – ensuring 46 members Boeing attempted to charge paid the full COBRA rate have been Governor’s proclamations are enforced. full COBRA coverage will continue their health care at active rates. or will be reimbursed. Members who Rights Plans for ★ ★ ★ ★★ Inside Index Restored the Future President’s Message .................2 Union action cancels Career Advisors help IAM/Boeing Joint Programs ..5 WARN; contractual navigate resources in the General Election Want Ads ...................................6 ★ ★ ★ ★ return rights before and after NOV. 3rd Retirement ................................7 recognized 3 layoff 5 See Voting Recommendations, page 8 Eastern Washington .................8 Page 2 751 AERO MECHANIC October 2020 REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT Anger Can Spur Action for a Better Future for Us & Boeing By JON HOLDEN increased single aisle production their job. It was reported in August, that the on the future and take action. We can help IAM 751 District President to levels unheard of in the past. FAA proposed fines after allegations that bring pressure to launch a new airplane I am angry over Boeing’s • 777X threat and forced senior managers exerted undue pressure and given Boeing’s current cash situation, decision to consolidate 787 contract extension. Again, to approve work. Here, because we have they can’t afford to take unnecessary production in South Carolina Boeing threatened to move one union representation, we can speak up risks. Therefore, they should embrace – not because I didn’t expect of the most efficient wide-body and fight against decisions we believe the place with the highest probability it. Like most everyone in production systems in the world could degrade the production process of success and efficiency, as well as the state of Washington, I elsewhere. Clearly, this shows the (see story page 1 regarding reinstatement the place requiring the least amount of thought the decision was Company is willing to sacrifice of inspections). While our successes are investment - that is Washington State. made years ago when they announced the relationships, our communities and our never easy and it is always a long battle, We can make a difference in the next second line in 2009. livelihoods all in the name of profits. we have an avenue to voice our concerns 4 years so let’s each prepare. Our future I’m angry because I knew it was • In the past decade, rather than investing and work to get them addressed. here depends on what we can gain at the coming, and we don’t have contract in new airplanes to maintain single aisle • Now, 787 consolidation is just bargaining table, and we must focus on language to stop it. We tried to show market share and continue our advantage another action in a long list of actions job security language.