State may continue to lose employers, workers

The guest commentary from SPEEA’s Ray Goforth regarding Boeing’s decision to locate a 787 production line in South Carolina [“Shortsighted S.C. decision bad for Boeing shareholders,” Opinion, Nov. 3], represented nice rhetoric from an unelected union boss who is not an engineer, and has never worked at Boeing.

However, it ignores the real issue driving employers and workers away from Washington, which is the corrupt system of compulsory unionism that exists here.

While the policies of Washington clearly benefit the union bosses and politicians they support, these polices are not good for employers or employees in this state.

Instead of treating workers like a commodity from which they are entitled to receive financial tribute, unions in right-to-work states such as South Carolina actually have to earn their members, and treat them like valued customers if they want to retain their business.

Real employee free choice makes unions accountable, which unfortunately most union bosses see as a threat to their preferred business model.

I value my 23 years as a Boeing engineer, but I wouldn’t take a job in this state today.

Until Washington embraces real employee free choice, it’s inevitable that this state will continue to lose employers and workers to right-to-work states like South Carolina.

— Michael R. Butcher, Issaquah

It’s 1970s Pittsburgh all over again

Boeing’s decision to build in South Carolina is an unfortunate, but sound, business decision [“Harsh new reality,” page one, Nov. 1], brought about by an unrealistic union, and evidenced by deciding to strike while many people were losing jobs.

Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1970s, I witnessed this same irresponsibility that killed my city’s steel industry.

The union appears to have an antagonistic attitude toward management and an unrealistic grasp of the economy. IAM general vice president Rich Michalski stated he doesn’t trust the Boeing company, but that the machinists are going to build the best airplanes.

Driving a wedge between workers and management, when management needs to increase shareholders’ wealth and has other options, is a losing proposition.

It’s 1970s Pittsburgh all over again, and if the unions fail to work with management, high-paying jobs are gone forever. The blame game is irrelevant.

— Kurt Houser, Poulsbo

Union ignored obvious signs

Regarding the Nov. 1 article, “Boeing may feel chill from miffed Murray” [News], Sen. Patty Murray should be equally miffed with the Machinists union for ignoring obvious signs of Boeing’s discontent.

Did union officials really think waiting until Oct. 21 to offer a no-strike agreement was reasonable?

Delaying that offer only served to reinforce Boeing’s concerns, and demonstrated how entrenched the union is in protecting the status quo.

— Stephani Mar, Bainbridge