The Bellevue teachers strike and the Boeing machinists strike are not only about money. The media is perpetuating this misconception.

Both strikes are about control, and proposed contracts take control away from teachers and the skilled workers who make our airplanes. Not settling these strikes quickly and equitably creates ominous complications for students, airplane manufacturing, and the stability of our economy.

The Bellevue School District has three high schools listed among the top 100 in America. No other district in our country can claim such distinction. This is because competent, dedicated teachers have the incentive to individualize instruction to meet the needs of every student.

The proposed contract with the teachers and the district touts the “Curriculum Web” - which is an autocratic plan directing teachers away from successful creative innovation. When the Bellevue School District removes the Curriculum Web from the new contract this strike can be settled.

Also, the media has not made public the basic grievances of Boeing machinists. These are:

The new contract changes the plan for machinists near retirement, removing the spousal benefit and decreasing medical coverage. Boeing machinists seek the same medical and retirement plan as salaried employees.

Governor Gregoire’s 48 hour “last minute” attempt to force negotiations between Boeing management and machinists turned out to be a deceptive ploy creating an excuse for Boeing to delay contractual contract demands from purchasers providing more time for delivering planes without penalty. Boeing made no attempt to negotiate.

Machinists’ wages are misquoted in the media. Overall they are lower. The “signing bonus” stated is no signing bonus at all. It is a contractual payment owed on their current contract.

Once this strike is settled, Boeing faces the probability of an engineers strike. Most of the components, pre-assembled parts and designs forwarded from foreign sources have been incomplete, faulty or inferior, causing unavoidable delay as American engineers, draftsmen and machinists creatively correct the errors.

The bounty of Boeing profits needs to be shared fairly with the workers who earn those profits. Only the respect and reward of American machinists and engineers can save Boeing today.

Bellevue schools and Boeing airplanes are superior. They are superior because teachers, machinists and engineers in Washington state are outstanding and deserve reward for their excellence. Lacking control and respect in their workplace these same teachers, machinists and engineers cannot continue to excel. Let us appreciate them and settle their strikes quickly to protect the welfare of every family in Washington state.

Bob Olson

Bellevue

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