Stupidity I don't understand

[WuDrWu]

I know this has been rehashed over and over but are all these people really this dumb?

http://www.kansas.com/107/story/515988.html

As I figure it, in a worst case scenario, a person working and insuring their family would see a $2736 increase in the co-payment of their premium. The company is offering (at a minimum) a $5000 up front bonus, half of that essentially for not striking.

Memo to machinists that can actually read (probably a waste of time):

Healthcare costs are rising for everyone. What do you think Boeing's cost are rising, percentage wise? My company may have to consider dropping healthcare coverage because it's getting out of hand.

And what in the heck is Boeing thinking? These idiots are going to strike knowing a 5k bonus awaits them when they come back so they'll just sit back, drink beer and run up the credit card bills for a month or so of vacation. Give them the bonus down the line.....that should keep the payrolls filled for awhile.

[SB Shock]

Re: Stupidity I don't understand

I know this has been rehashed over and over but are all these people really this dumb?

5% raise this year or go on strike for a minimum loss of 2 paychecks = +5% - 8% = -3%

Memo to machinists that can actually read (probably a waste of time):

Healthcare costs are rising for everyone. What do you think Boeing's cost are rising, percentage wise? My company may have to consider dropping healthcare coverage because it's getting out of hand.

The real kicker is "The company also offers an HMO plan with no monthly premiums."

[BostonWu]

I wish these tools would gain a little perspective. I do alright for myself, advanced degree with a decent white-collar job; but the fact remains I had to cover the full $5,450 deductible this year when my second kid was delivered. I have three health care plan options to choose from and the high-deductible plan offered the most savings. I wish they realized we’re all getting hit with skyrocketing healthcare costs (well everyone ungrateful except aircraft workers).

[rrshock]

How many on here pay less that $111 a month for their family's health insurance?

I am happy as hell just paying $170 roughly a month. And I thought that I was getting a good deal.

I talked to my sister in Seattle the other day and she said they're crazy. I hope they reject and lose their signing bonus offers in the next round of negotiations. The machinists can take a leap as far as I am concerned.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

I pay $160ish a month for my families insurance. I am not in aircraft.

[McShocker]

Boeing leadership is corrupt and the unions are ran by idiots. If it wasn't for all the friends and family that depend directly or indirectly on Boeing to make their living, I wouldn't mind seeing them all lose everything.

[WuDrWu]

I pay 234/month which amounts to 30% of the premium for my family AND that does not include any RX coverage.

And frankly I am happy I get that....as fast as it is growing out of control it's only going to get worse.

[RoyalShock]

I pay roughly $250/mo for health, dental and Rx for my family. I consider myself fortunate, in that regard.

Now, if I could only get some job security written into my "contract". :roll:

[engrshock]

With all the comments against the union I must ask Why do you care? Do you own stock in Boeing? I also would like to pay nothing toward my insurance premiums and would like to have the highest wage I can get along with the most benefits I can garner. Do you really think that Boeing wants to deal directly with individual employees and all the problems that would entail?

Do you also believe that professional athletes should not be unionized? As far as I can tell most on this board generally feel that pro athletes should get all they can get the owners to pay.

Note that on its face it would appear to me that the union workers would be foolish to vote to strike. They will never make up for what they would lose during a strike. Still I do not really care one way or another.

[WuDrWu]

Personally, yes I do own Boeing stock.

Any strike will adversely affect the local economy of which most of us belong....My point is that if they were being treated unfairly then strike...I don't know 1 person outside the union that thinks anything but they are being overpaid, under worked and have a benefit package that is borderline insanely good.

They are making a poor economic decision for themselves (which I couldn't care less about) and a poor economic decision for the area (which I care greatly about).

I want them treated fairly. Any sane person would say this contract is beyond fair.

[engrshock]

What is a fair contract? To me it sounds fair but I do not have anything riding on it. I have one brother at Boeing and one at Spirit. The brother at Spirit will probably go to 3-4 day work weeks because of a strike. The one at Boeing will probably never get back the money he loses from a strike. Still that is the Boeing workers decision to determine what is "fair" not yours or mine. The wages the workers at Boeing and the other aircraft companies make does directly influence the Wichita economy. A strike may hurt for a time but the benefits to the local economy over the years has been worth it in my opinion. If the "company ruled all" less money would be going into the Wichita economy and going elsewhere and that would also hurt. Maybe it would trickle down.

[sekshoxfan]

I wish I had your insurance plans. I work for a small manufacturing company. Family coverage for health, dental and Rx costs me about $490 per month.

[SFL]

Try $700 per month! :cry:

[SubGod22]

They're all idiots. Striking will cost them more money than they make and everybody but the union members seem to know that. Part of me hopes that some of these morons get into a lot of financial trouble for being stupid enough to strike.

I personally know people that crossed the picket line from day one of the Hawker strike because they thought the vote to strike was insanely stupid and wasn't worth it.

[SB Shock]

It's all fun and games until their jobs go to Mexico and China.