Dispatch from the Boeing strike line

Solidarity is strong and joy is overflowing as Machinists build momentum on picket lines

by COLIN CALEY, WSLC Intern

RENTON, WA (September 19, 2024) — Machinists of IAM 751 are loud, proud and UNITED! This is and will be a tough contract fight; however, you wouldn’t know that down on the lines. There’s dancing, grilling and loads of SOLIDARITY. You’ll find third generation members, who remember better days when their employers would “rent out Enchanted Village [Wild Waves] and the Kingdome”. On the same line there’s another Machinist fresh out of high school, who has only known unregulated corporate greed. While the former is more likely to walk the lines for their stolen pension and the latter for their starting wage, each fights for all Machinists.

A picketer walks across the street at the Renton strike line.

In talking with members, one gleans a lot. Some are braced for several rounds of contract offers, others question the future of negotiation in several years’ time, some are willing to strike for one year and many are disillusioned after years of being cast aside by corporate. Members are frank about a proposed agreement regarding the construction of the next airplane series in our backyard: “ There’s no guarantees” and “[Boeing] tries to put the cherry on top, but the cherry ain’t there.”

Three picketers on the Renton strike line pose for a photo next to a handmade strike poster that reads “strike hard, no mercy.”

While many have been saving up since 2019 or before, “it’s hard to save up, when you’re making $20 an hour,” said one Machinist. “I made $20 an hour for a year, and I worked on wings, airplane wings.” Conversations like these were even more unfortunate in the Renton locations, where employees at any of The Landing’s stores across the street often make identical wages to that of starting Machinists.

On the bright side, there has never been more attention given to the exploitation Machinists endure from the most historically recognized company in Washington’s history. One of the third-generation machinists compared this strike to 2008 strike:  “there is much more solidarity amongst the ranks”.

Picketers wave signs at passing traffic at the Renton strike line.

Engineers of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, (SPEEA) regularly join the picket lines with Machinists, who on any normal day are working with them side by side. It is not just the engineers; several pilots joined the picket line Monday. Along with the tremendous support by passersby in cars, on bikes and motorcycles it is obvious that all of WA’s working class is implicated in Boeing’s lackluster contract offer. Washingtonians across the state have Machinists’ backs!

The WSLC encourages everyone who is able to join the picket lines. Not able to participate in the picket? Bring supplies to a strike HQ near you.

For those eager to picket, check out the locations of all the picket lines! They go 24/7, so when you get up for that midnight snack, how about accompanying that with some good ‘ole worker solidarity on the lines.

Colin Caley is a Political & Communications Intern with the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Along with fellow Political & Communications intern Yesenia Scearcy and other WSLC staff, Caley has been joining Machinist picket lines since the strike started at midnight on September 13. Photos: Colin Caley & Yesenia Scearcy.