Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) led a letter from 177 members of Congress to Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) calling on the two to work together in respecting the decision of the flight technicians in South Carolina who voted to join the IAMAW union earlier this year.

“We have seen firsthand the benefits of a unionized workforce,” the Members wrote. “Unions make the workplace safer, more efficient and make the workforce stronger. Taking one step in the Everett or Renton plant proves this point. IAMAW is a critical part of Boeing’s achievement and will be a critical part of its continued success.” 

You can read the whole letter here.

September 27, 2018

Dennis Muilenburg                                         Robert Martinez, Jr.

Chairman, President and CEO                        President                                                                

The Boeing Company                                     IAMAW                    

100 North Riverside                                       9000 Machinists Pl

Chicago, IL 60606                                          Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Dr. Muilenburg and Mr. Martinez, Jr:  

We are writing today to ask that the Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) work together to respect the decision of the flight technicians in South Carolina who voted to join the IAMAW union earlier this year by a 104-65 vote.

We have seen firsthand the benefits of a unionized workforce.  Unions make the workplace safer, more efficient, and make the workforce stronger. Taking one step in the Everett or Renton plant proves this point. IAMAW is a critical part of Boeing’s achievement and will be a critical part of its continued success. 

In 1935, thirty-five Boeing production workers formed the local Machinists union, forever changing Boeing’s history. Boeing is now the most successful and largest aerospace company in the world. More than 10,000 Boeing-built airplanes are in service globally, which is almost half of all airplanes built by union hands in service in the world.  Boeing’s success is not despite IAMAW but because of it.

The Boeing Company was built by the same union the flight technicians at the South Carolina plant want to join. Therefore, we were concerned to hear Boeing is seeking to appeal the decision of the flight technicians and hope IAMAW and Boeing work together to resolve this matter.