BY LINDA JARVEN
SEATTLE-In early October members of the Young Socialists
here visited the picket line of Boeing workers on strike.
Over 32,000 members of the International Association of
Machinists (IAM) went on strike October 6 to defend their
health care benefits, pensions, and job security.
One striker reported having to do the job of what used to take five or six people in order meet goals set by Boeing. However, even though workers are being overworked in order to meet growing company demands with fewer workers, the "Fortunate Five" (as one striker referred to Boeing's top executives) received $14 billion in bonuses and incentives throughout the year.
The strikers we spoke with all agreed that the strike is not about wages but about health care benefits, job security, and "our dignity." The morale seemed very high, despite the feeling that this is going to be a long strike. "This time everyone is mad," said one striker.
It was moving to hear stories of how a couple of thousand workers marched across the Boeing plant during their lunch on October 5, to vote against the contract and for the strike, with the sound of horns honking in the background in a show of solidarity.
All the strikers we spoke with thanked us for coming to give our support. It was definitely refreshing to see the strength and solidarity of the Boeing strikers and we are looking forward to more visits to the picket lines in the future to show our continued support.
Linda Jarven is a member of the Young Socialists in Seattle