176 Flight Readiness Technicians Win the Right to Representation in Charleston, SC

A small group of flight line mechanics who work at the Boeing Dreamliner plant in North Charleston, South Carolina have recently voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Roughly 131,500 aircraft service technicians and mechanics held jobs in the U.S. in 2017, many of whom work for Boeing. Even though the number of workers who fought and won the right to representation accounted for only 176 out of Boeing’s roughly 6,800 employees in the Charleston area, it came as a big win.

The group of 176 flight readiness technicians won the right to representation after the National Labor Relations Board ruled in their favor on May 21. During which, Boeing referred to the workers as a “gerrymandering subset of employees,” according to AIN Online.

The IAM argued on behalf of the technicians, stating that they worked under employment conditions that differed from that of other employees, such as wages, hours, and supervision. Despite the relatively small portion of employees involved in the unionization, Boeing still felt the weight of the decision. Boeing had chosen the North Charleston location to build a significant number of their 787s.

Aircraft maintenance involves staking reputation on high quality, high-end engine repairs and upkeep. While aircraft technicians may not concern themselves fully with sky condition tolerance, they heavily monitor vibration in the crafts to ensure their airworthiness. Thus, these men and women are responsible for the safe flights of millions of people.

Unfortunately, Boeing may not see it that way. In a statement released after the ruling by the NLRB, “Boeing continues to believe that this type of micro-unit is prohibited by federal law,” and “while we are deeply disappointed with the result and are appealing, we will come together as we continue to deliver on our customer commitments.”

This win for the 176 workers, while big for them and IAM, remains relatively ineffective on a larger scale. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unionized workers employed by Boeing only accounts for 2.6% of their entire workforce.

IAM Boeing South Carolina lead organizer Mike Evans commented on the situation, stating that “we hope Boeing does the right thing by agreeing to sit down and negotiate in good faith with the dedicated flight readiness technicians.”

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