STRIKE 2005
Daily Update - Local Lodge 2766
21 Nov 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Machinists have Thanksgiving on Picket Line
Huntsville, AL, November 22, 2005 – Machinists at Local Lodge 44 in Decatur and
Local Lodge 2766 in Huntsville are planning for a Thanksgiving dinner to
celebrate the holiday and the solidarity they have shown in their three-week
strike against Boeing.
“This isn’t an easy holiday when you’re on strike and your families are
sacrificing,” said union spokesman Bob Wood. “But we are celebrating the fact
that we have a strong, vibrant union, and we can fight for our family’s future.
Our health care is very important, and we don’t have to take massive cuts so
that other Boeing employees can have cheap health care.”
On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Decatur Machinists will be serving dinner from
1-3 PM (best time for press visits will be between 1 and 2 PM) on the picket
line in front of the Boeing plant. On Friday, the
“Thanksgiving is a time for families,” added Wood. “We are a family in this
union, and we are fighting for their future. Solidarity is a great thing to
celebrate.”
Machinists have something else to celebrate – They will receive their first
$150 weekly strike check on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. “These
checks are from the $156 million dollar IAM strike fund, and is earmarked to
help the strikers make it through the strike,” said Wood.
No new negotiations are scheduled at this time.
IAM-represented technicians employed by Boeing in Huntsville and Decatur, along
with Machinists in California and Florida, struck on Nov. 2 after Boeing
proposed massive concessions in health care for current and future employees.
The same proposals led to a costly 4-week strike at Boeing’s Commercial
Aircraft facilities in
The IAM is among the largest industrial trade unions in