777X In Danger: Machinists Reject Boeing Contract

[mountain grammy]

7. I am also proud of the IAM for standing up to Boeing.

About 20 years ago my husband was an IAM aircraft mechanic in Denver working for United Express. United demanded the contract be opened for pay cuts or, "we're sorry, we'll just have to cut all your jobs".. you know the drill. As long time airline employees we were accustomed to the roller coaster ride. The CEO of United at the time (Wolf) had just increased his compensation to $7million/year (remember that was 20 years ago.) The mechanics were scared. Many of our friends had lost jobs and homes in the late 80's after being trickled on by our new economic model brought to us by St. Reagan.
My husband and a few others got militant. To hell with United. The writing's on the wall, we will lose in the end. Right now we hold on to our pride and get as much as we can as long as we can. They did, and they held on another dozen years.
In the end, the corporation almost always wins, but if workers stick together they can persevere.