Airport Road: 3:17 AM

EVERETT — It’s the time of the night that you’re not sure if it’s late at night or early in the morning. Low clouds were rolling through and the chill in the air signaled the impending arrival of the fall. The spotlights usually illuminated on the top of the world’s largest building were dark, and each of the six football field sized doors closed.

The sun was still several hours from coming up.

Several dozen machinists had gathered on Airport Road at Paine Field in Everett. For some it was their designated time to picket, for most it was a chance to come out and keep the others company. The strike was only three hours and 21 minutes old.

“Some people look at this as vacation time. It’s not, it’s time to step up.” remarked a technician on the 787 program.”

Stepping up, as he saw it, meant helping his fellow machinists find work while the strike was going on. He starts a landscaping job on Monday.

Many had much to gain in the form of a dollar figure from Boeing’s final offer. Yet, that wasn’t the point they said. They saw a contract that on its surface gave them a raise, but claimed it increased their healthcare costs or put their job security at risk.  For them, it wasn’t an acceptable trade off.

The 787 technician remarked to me that the strike was fundamentally about putting “others before yourself.”

“I gave up a house,” says one machinist standing along side his wife who also works for Boeing. The couple would have had enough for a down payment on a home.

“Are you proud to be on strike?” a union steward asked of Matt who works on the 787.

“I’m not proud to be on strike, I’m proud we are standing up,” he replied.

Though, the reality of what was ahead was setting in for them. The commencement of the strike was far from a happy moment. Those I’ve spoken to were far from regretful of their decision to vote for a strike, though the uncertainty and insecurity of the situation was descending upon them.

Businesses in the area had already begun temporary layoffs of staff while the strike was going on. Business won’t be as strong as long as Boeing’s workforce is on strike, making it even harder for those on strike to find work in the area.

Boeing, Washington state’s largest employer, puts food on the tables of many more than just those they employ.

For those on strike, a bad outcome is not something that is outwardly considered, but the potential is the back of their minds. A few admitted to me that questions still lingered.

Would a new contract meet their expectations? Would they get what they needed? Could they be left with less than before? Could their jobs go elsewhere?

I asked many machinists how long they felt the strike might last. Each had a different answer, but all hoped it would be brief.

Now they wait.

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