Dec 2009/Jan 2010 751 AERO MECHANIC Page VOL. 64 NO. 11 DECEMBER 2009/JANUARY 2010 Celebrating as 787 Soars in First Flight The first flight of the first Boeing 787 on Dec. 15 was a cause for celebration, District 751 members said. Thousands of members lined the Paine Field runway to watch the first flight in person while thousands more watched on TV or over the Internet as the world’s first composite airliner rotated back and climbed into the mid-winter gray sky. “I could see it just as the nose came up and the wings started to bend,” said Dan Stieben, a Steward on the 787 line who watched at Paine Field. “It gave me such a rush, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I was shaking, nervous, wait- ing in anticipation.” Thousands of Everett members crowded the flight line eager to witness the 787’s first flight, which marks the Randal Fleehart had been at the first beginning of a ‘new generation’ of planes built with lightweight composites. 787 workers were excited to be a part of flights of the 767 and 777, but said this this historic event. Inset above L to R: Mike Fox, Bill Bush, Daovone Vannaxay, Randal Fleehart, Becky Carlyle. was the most memorable one, “just be- struggled with years of disappointments, hard work they’d put into getting the first got here,” he said. “It was our baby. cause there have been so many delays delays and doubts, said member Gizem plane flying. We’d go in, take out the changes we’d and frustrations.” Moore, who watched on TV with her Member Jim Wallingford left a job at just put in and do new changes.” “It didn’t use a lot of runway, and it Everett colleagues as the plane touched a mortgage company 2 1/2 years ago to Likewise, member Danny Boglivi was pretty quiet,” Fleehart said. “It was down in the rain at Boeing Field. take a job as a 787 mechanic. Until it spent most of a year working on just one one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever “Everything’s been negative,” Moore went out to the flight line in November, assignment. “I worked the 47/48 join for seen.” explained. “Now, it’s just that he’d spent his entire Boeing career work- 10 months,” he said. “We replaced al- All in all, it was a great moment for a everybody’s proud.” ing just on Plane 1. most every fastener on it.” factory – and a Company – that has Members talked about the years of “It’s been that same airplane since I Continued on page 4 FABulous Work at Auburn on 787 Contract Ratified at GKN Twenty members at the GKN Chemtronics plant in The highest concentration of skilled Machinists for Loretta Kent overwhelmingly ratified a new two-year contract building complex airplane parts and assemblies resides Castillo on December 10 by 94 percent. While the new contract at Boeing Fabrication’s Auburn plant. These talented explains to is effective January 11, 2010, members are already individuals make the most complex aerospace parts in Business enjoying the benefits of the new agreement. Members the world, hold them to extremely tight tolerances, work Rep Mark received a $2,000 ratification bonus on December 18. closely with engineering and make modifications as Johnson Union members appreciated the new contract that the process required throughout the entire manufacturing process. featured many improvements and absolutely no improve- Making parts for sustaining programs and airplanes ments her takeaways. Despite the good contract, members are still is just a small part of the work done for Boeing at this crew hoping there will be new life for the Kent facility, which plant. The Auburn site is home to several manufactur- implemented Boeing sold to GKN in early 2002. Currently, 100 ing business units, including Auburn Machining and to make percent of their work is tied to the F-22, which is Emergent Operations (AMEO), where one-of-a-kind 787 work scheduled to come to an end late next year. replacement machined parts are manufactured on an more With the potential plant closure, the Union entered emergency basis to keep commercial airplane produc- efficient. bargaining for a new contract focused on obtaining a tion lines moving. safety net to help members transition if the plant should Boeing has eagerly tapped into the incredible depth making the flight a reality. close. The contract also had to provide enough incen- of resources Auburn has to offer to assist both the 787 “Our members are excited to show they can deliver tives for members to stay working at GKN so the and 747-8 new airplane models. Members throughout high-quality parts on time every time,” said Business Company could fulfill the F-22 contract. Boeing Fabrication have worked on various parts and Rep Heather Barstow. “They want to play a larger role “The contract was fair. It was all pluses and improve- assemblies for the 787 and 747-8. As the 787 took its in both the 787 and 747-8. Initially, they were not slated ments with no takeaways, which is huge in this economy. first flight on December 15, many Auburn members to get this much work on the new airplanes; however, I wish we had more work because that is our biggest beamed with pride knowing they played a role in their skills, efficiency and quality have resulted in a lot concern,” said member Steve Hefford. “I want to thank of additional work on both the new planes.” the Union for their help and support in negotiating this Thomas “Nearly every job is needed yesterday so our mem- Continued on page 2 Martinez bers regularly step up and volunteer for overtime and do L to R: explains whatever is necessary to meet the deadlines and keep Gary to the assembly lines moving,” she added. “Because em- Halibur Business ployees are working under pressure, they have to make and Peter Rep every part right the first time – a credit to their skills and Guerrero Heather experience.” count the Barstow Shop A-3250 houses one of the larger machine ballots as the Ron Lee shops in Boeing. Nearly every member there has over emergent looks on. 787 work 20 years’ seniority and has worked on multiple airplane they have models. This extensive experience helps minimize scrap done. rate, rework and waste, which is particularly challeng- Continued on page 5 Model Employer Helping Hands Inside Index Members at Monarch Machine Throughout the region President's Message ......2 appreciate the strong relationship 751 members have Political Action ............... 3 between Union and management volunteered for Community Service...... 6 that has helped make them from the Officers, community service Retirement...................... 9 succcesful Business Reps & Staff of 751 6 Want Ads ........................10 12 Eastern Washington .... 12 Page 2 751 AERO MECHANIC Dec 2009/Jan 2010 REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT Your Skills and Expertise Made 787 First Flight a Reality by Tom Wroblewski, seven days a week to make their tracts, workers no longer have to line up for all they’ve done in the past year to District President Dreamliner a reality, executives outside the Boeing gates each day, hoping support the membership. branded you unreliable and turned to get picked for a day’s work by a friendly But most of all, I’d like to thank all of It flew. At long last, their backs on Puget Sound, and our foreman. Today’s Machinists have con- you, the 25,000-plus members of Dis- the first 787 has climbed decades of shared success. tract rights and benefits that those early trict 751, for the work you do every day, into the gray winter sky But even with all these delays aerospace mechanics could only dream of, and for all the work that you’ll do in the above Paine Field, prov- and disappointments, what you have and our Union now proudly includes thou- year to come. ing to the world once again achieved is nothing short of out- sands of workers who work for companies Every year, it seems, we look forward the value of having skilled standing. You have solved the prob- and agencies across the Northwest, in a to the New Year with hopes that things and dedicated profession- lems created by outsourcing. You wide range of skilled trades. will be better than the last. We already als like you. have invented new processes and adapted But one thing hasn’t changed, and that’s know we’ll have challenges in 2010 – Throughout all the delays, I always time-honored techniques to the new reali- the principle of solidarity, and the funda- what with the tanker, and the 787 surge knew one thing: if there was anyone on ties of the 21st century. You’ve installed mental truth that workers standing united line and all the other issues we face. earth who could take all those pieces of parts, then gone back to remove, rework are more powerful than any individual. But it’s my sincere belief that if we plastic, titanium, chips, wire and steel from and re-install them – again and again. Over the decades, our members have act together, in solidarity, we will over- all over the world and build them into a You’re the fixers, the re-workers and the accepted and lived by this principle, and come these challenges, and truly make 21st century airplane, it was you, the mem- problem solvers, and I’m proud to have all the result is what we have today: family- 2010 a happy and prosperous new year, bers of District 751, who just proved again of you as my brothers and sisters.