Unions in 7 countries meet in Portland
to seek unity in bargaining with Boeing
Now that Boeing is outsourcing
work on its new 787 “Dreamliner” to a
worldwide web of suppliers, unions rep-
resenting its workers are gearing up to
go global as well.
On March 26-27, union officials
from seven countries met in Portland to
form a global alliance of Boeing work-
ers. Over a two-day span, union leaders
from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Sweden and the United States
shared information and talked about
ways to work more closely together.
The global aerospace industry may
be doing well, but aerospace workers
have faced difficult times, said Thomas
Buffenbarger, general president of the
U.S.-based International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
“We must make certain Boeing can
never pit us against each other when it
comes to determining where production
will take place,” Buffenbarger told at-
tendees.
The meeting was organized by the
Geneva, Switzerland-based Interna-
tional Metalworkers Federation (IMF),
and was scheduled in Portland just prior
to an annual conference of the IAM’s
Aerospace Division. Boeing, the world’s
largest aircraft manufacturer, has
150,000 employees in 70 countries,
though most of the work is done by
workers in developed countries.
Unions have never successfully
merged across national borders, IMF
General Secretary Marcello Malentac-
chi told the NW Labor Press. But there
are other ways to cooperate besides one
Free ads to subscribers
Published 1st and 3rd Fridays
Send to:
NW Labor Press, PO Box 13150,
Portland, OR 97213
• 15 words or less
• Include address label from front
page and telephone number
• Sorry, we cannot accept ads over
the telephone
• No commercial or business ads
• 1 ad per issue
• Type or print legibly
Classified ads MUST include area code on all phone numbers or they will
not be published
Automotive
Listening to a delegate via simultaneous translation, Robert Steiert (left),
Thomas Buffenbarger (center) and Marcello Malentacchi preside over a
conference of Boeing unions put on in Portland March 26-27 by the
International Metalworkers Federation. Steiert, from Germany, heads the
IMF's Aerospace Department; Buffenbarger is general president of the U.S.-
based Machinists Union; Malentacchi, from Italy, is IMF general secretary.
big worldwide union, Malentacchi said.
They can coordinate their demands, syn-
chronize the expiration of their con-
tracts, and sit in on each others’negotia-
tions with the company.
However, it was clear from several
hours of country reports that the assem-
bled unions face widely different cir-
cumstances. The company appears to
have a different labor relations posture
for each country, depending on local
laws and customs.
Many of the troops and those killed
are sons, daughters, sisters, brothers
and husbands and wives of workers,
the statement adds. “The best way now
to recognize and honor their service is
to take them out of harm’s way,” it
says.
The statement is an outgrowth of
the AFL-CIO’s historic decision at its
2005 convention in Chicago to break
for the first time ever with the govern-
ment on a war-and-peace issue. The
federation called then for “rapid with-
drawal” of troops from Iraq. This
statement was along the same lines.
Zachary
Zabinsky
• Social Security
• SSI - Disability Claims
Personal Attention To Every Case
Working For Disability Rights
Since 1983
While European unions benefit from
labor-friendly legal protections and na-
tional health systems, Boeing’s U.S.
unions have had five strikes in the last
two years trying to defend health insur-
ance coverage.
Australian unions are fighting for
their lives after a complete rewrite of the
nation’s labor laws by anti-union Prime
Minister John Howard. It took an eight-
month strike for one group of four dozen
Boeing workers in New South Wales
just to win union recognition.
In Japan, unions are fighting the
spread of lower-paid part-time jobs.
In Germany, unions are focusing on
more flexible rules to help weather
downturns. In slow times, German aero-
space employees will work four days a
week as an alternative to layoffs.
In Italy, unions bargained a contract
that gives wage increases each time
profits rise a certain amount.
“It will be a sunny day for labor
when the Boeing Company and its sup-
pliers receive similar proposals from
aerospace workers in different coun-
tries,” Buffenbarger told delegates.
“Then and only then will companies un-
derstand that they can no longer keep us
divided by oceans, languages, customs,
and industrial relations systems.”
IRS PROBLEMS?
•Haven’t filed for...years?
• Lost records?
•Liens-Levies-Garnishments?
•Fees are affordable
• Appointments available
evenings & weekends
• Working with union members
for over 20 years
’01 FORD 3/4 ton truck, auto, air, new tires,
86k, $9,500. 503 667-1093
’97 GMC 2500 SLT, 4x4, orig owner, 78k,
like new cond, loaded, $11,500. 503 653-
7089 or 503 816-8666
MOVING SALE, ’71 Ford LTD 400, $500;
’69 Roll-a-long 16’ camper, $500. 503 283-
6815 Allan
’78 MERCURY COUGAR Brougham, 4dr,
47k verifiable miles, V8, 351, air, auto, ex
cond, $6,000. 503 359-7526
’95 OLDS CUTLASS convertible, 67, 500
miles, blue w/black top and leather, near
perfect, $4,950. 503 655-6434
’93 FORD TAURUS, 4-door wagon, new
radiator/water pump, needs head gasket,
$200 OBO. 503 880-4397
’70 MAIL JEEP, strong inline 6 engine,
needs work, $500 OBO. 503 630-2301
’76 DODGE 440 eng and 727 trans, ap-
prox 74k miles, $600 OBO. 503 793-1952
Housing
ROCKAWY BEACH house, just minutes
to beach, sleeps 9, 3 bd. 503 355-2136 or
503 709-6018
5 ACRES NORTH Clark County WA, sur-
veyed, flat, 150k, 360 263-8930 or email
labgoddess2u@yahoo.com.
NORTH BEND, 400 sq ft park model (95),
and 10x20 shop, near dunes in park,
$40,000. 541 759-3531
NEWLY REMODELED 4 bdr beach home
in Oceanside w/view. 503 349-7919 or 503
256-1521. (http://beachhouseatocean-
side.com/)
ROCKWAY BEACH vacation home, 3
bed, sleeps 8, beachfront, all amenities,
$175/nite. 503 842-9607
Wanted
OLD WOODWORKING tools, planes, lev-
els, chisels, folding rulers, handsaws,
slicks, adzes, leather tools, chests. 503
659-0009
CASH FOR older oil paintings, older toys,
older costume jewelry, and older art pot-
tery. 503 653-1506
RESTORER WANTS log saws, log saw
handles/hardware, broad/double bit axes,
hard hats. 503 819-3736
JUNK CARS, removal of unwanted vehi-
cles. 503 314-8600
CASH PAID for 1970 and 1980 toys, call
anytime. 503 253-9342
ALUM BOAT, 12 – 15 ft, Gregor, Klamath,
Valco with or without motor. 503 257-1082
MOTORCYCLES, street or dirt, also musi-
cal instruments. 503 880-8183
For the Home
BURGLAR GUARDS for windows, (2) 6’w
x 3’h, light weight, channel contruction,
$50 each OBO for both. 503 281-0181
NO FEE WITHOUT RECOVERY
Call Nancy D. Anderson
621 SW Morrison, Portland
Enrolled Agent/Tax Practitioner
Sporting Goods
503-697-7757
SMOKER CRAFT, .04, 15 ft, Lodge Series
SS, 15hp 4 stroke Merc, trailer, new, ex-
223-8517
PAGE 10
BARGAIN COUNTER
DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication
AFL-CIO Exec Council calls for
U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq
LAS VEGAS — It is time for the
United States to bring its military in-
volvement in what has become a “civil
war” in Iraq to an end, the AFL-CIO
Executive Council said in a strongly
worded statement approved March 7
at its winter meeting here.
Blasting Bush’s conduct of the war,
the statement declares that “we should
not be asking our young men and
women who serve this nation in its
armed forces to remain in Iraq on ex-
tended tours without proper armor and
equipment, caught in an endless occu-
pation in the midst of a civil war.”
E
E
FR
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
tras, $5,800. 503 648-1537
’84 STARCRAFT TENT trailer, 14’, sleeps
4, weatherproofed, battery, propane stove,
sink, ice box, $850. 503 289-5326
5TH-WHEEL, 34’ Avion, 1 slide, catalytic
heater, liv fan, Corean counters/sinks, win-
dow awnings, $16,000. 971 207-1829
RAIDER FIBERGLASS canopy fits ’03
Chev Silverado long bed, lift door, $650.
503 829-2567
’97 FLAIR MOTOR home, 33k miles, very
good cond, leveling jacks, lots of extras,
asking B. book, $24,000. 503 465-1604
’96 HONDA SHADOW 1100, low miles,
new tires/bat, $3,500 OBO. 503 652-9028
2 ELECTRIC CANNON downriggers, 2
digi-troll II, never been used, $500 each.
503 252-2136
45 AUTO PISTOL, $450 cash or trade.
503-762-3280
GUN COLLECTION. 503 231-1208 Bob
’03 PASTIME CAMPER 8.5 fit, FSC,
queen bed, elect jacks, utility shower, ex
cond, $9,000. 503 632-2283
5TH-WHEELS, ex cond, ’92 Avion, 30’,
slideout, $12,000; ’94 Sandpiper, 27’,
$7,000, photos. 541 386-2892
1987 TRAVEL MATE 20’ fifth wheel, FSC,
lightweight, easy tow, exc cond w/hitch,
$2,800. 360 546-1540
’73 TERRY CAMP trailer, $600; 24’ dual
axle camp trailer, $300 OBO. 503 630-
2301
ANTIQUE/COLLECTIBLE fishing reels,
good to excellent condition. 503 590-3533
2000 14’ KLAMATH DLX w/8 horse
Honda, galvanized trailer, extras, excellent
condition, $3,000. 503 246-5022
’94 HITCHHIKER 36’ 5th-wheel, 2 slides,
$14,000; ’95 Dodge 3/4 ton truck, $5,000;
both for $18,000. 503 587-8647
Miscellaneous
UTILITY TRAILER, super HD, 3 ton, steel
box, 9x6, elec brakes, $1,150. 503 829-
9374
MINIATURE DONKEY, male, very friendly
and tame, $275. 503 936-5391
WELDER, WELDING helmet, gloves, full
apron, rod pouch, welding jacket, $100.
503 621-3090 Doug
MOWER MULCHER, 6hp, self-propelled,
almost new, $75. 503 281-1580
STOWMASTER TOW bar w/safety cables,
$250; flex coil wire, $15; porta potti,$25.
503 288-7688
MILGARD WINDOW, 4x8, 2-2ft sliders,
white vinyl, $100. 503 793-7535
RETIRED, selling commercial and resi-
dential floor tools and some ceramic tools.
360 910-1361 or 360 258-0088 John
BURN TRASH, warm garage, heat coffee,
old white enamel trash burner, works
great, $75. 360 263-3551
RAINBOW VACUUM cleaner, complete
w/attachments, rarely used, $250. 503
665-7942
GENERATOR HONDA EM650, $200;
electric welder, extra things, $250;
Karscher high pressure washer, $150. 503
774-5962
3 TON HEAVY duty chain fall, $20; camp-
ing woodstove, $5; Fiberboard ceiling/wall
tile, 16”x12’ sheets, free. 503 538-4369
APRIL 6, 2007