Boeing CEO Jim McNerney today re-affirmed that management rights remain the "linchpin" of stalled talks with the International Association of Machinists, which has been on strike since 6 September.
The current financial crisis is a reminder to Boeing executives that it would be "unwise to agree to terms that would restrict our ability to manage our business and respond quickly to market dynamics and customer needs," McNerney said, addressing Wall Street analysts via webcast to discuss third quarter earnings.
Boeing and the IAM plan to re-enter talks for the third time on Thursday in Washington DC, but McNerney notes that "a number of issues remain unresolved".
"We want an agreement that fairly rewards a highly valued group of employees and preserves our ability to compete in the future," McNerney said.
IAM officials have recently said they are not asking for job security guarantees, but want limits on outsourcing to subcontractors at Boeing's final assembly center in Everett, Washington.
McNerney wants to dispel any doubt that Boeing presented a fair proposal.
"We worked hard to avoid [the strike] and we want to resolve it as soon as possible," he says.
Boeing's growth strategy focused on "productivity improvements and customer-focused innovation," he adds, has allowed the company to hire 7,000 machinists and 3,000 unionised engineers within the past three years.
Even as the IAM strike continues, Boeing is preparing to enter final negotiations later this month with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA).
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
