Boeing, Airbus Face Labor Pressure as Unions Flex Muscle (as production shifts to China and Mexico)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-08/boeing-airbus-face-labor-pressure-as-unions-flex-global-muscle.html

By Susanna Ray - Oct 8, 2010 11:33 AM CT

Labor unions representing Boeing Co. and Airbus SAS workers are trying to follow the planemakers overseas and organize more employees as production shifts to developing countries.

More than 100 union leaders from around the world met in Seattle this week to map ways to help labor groups take root in the emerging aerospace industry in nations such as China and Mexico, and to keep tabs on unionized employers that are expanding abroad.

“If the work is sent from the Puget Sound to Poland, we need to be working with the Polish union to make sure compensation is commensurate with the work they’re doing so we’re not participating in the race to the bottom,” said Greg Junemann, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

The push to improve pay and job security outside of the companies’ home markets puts the labor groups at odds with the two biggest planemakers’ pursuit of cheaper markets in which to build aircraft.

The two-day meeting that ended yesterday near Boeing’s commercial headquarters marked the first global conference among the aerospace union chiefs since 2002, when they convened in Toulouse, France, where Airbus is based.

Air-Show Meetings

Machinists union President Tom Buffenbarger, who attended the Farnborough Air Show in July for the first time and met Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders, plans to hold union sessions to coincide with the industry’s Paris and U.K. shows to ensure workers are visible at the every-other-year gatherings.

FULL story at link.

[physioex]

1. This is why I am a proud union member....

And supporter. The workers should earn a fair share of the pie for their work.