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Machinists saw the light

Sat., Jan. 11, 2014

Congratulations to the Boeing Machinists for seeing the light and voting to accept the company’s latest contract offer. By doing so, they have secured high-paying jobs for decades. The union members and Washington are the winners.

Boeing could and would have taken those jobs to a right-to-work state. In losing further accruals on their defined benefit pension plan, union members are merely dealing with reality. This type of pension plan is virtually nonexistent in the private sector, and will soon be nonexistent in the public sector if we are to avoid further municipal bankruptcies.

It’s an economic model that can’t be sustained with today’s demographics.

Pat Killien

Spokane

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