Labor Unions at Boeing: Reflections on Our Findings in 'Turbulence: Boeing and the Future of American Workers and Managers' (Yale Press, 2010) and Developments Since Its Publication

This paper reports some of our main findings in 'Turbulence: Boeing and the State of American Workers and Managers' (Yale University Press, 2010 and 2011) and raises questions that might serve to stimulate discussion about the health and vitality of labor unions in the Pacific Northwest at these meetings of the American Political Science Association. My focus in this paper is on the IAM and SPEEA, both private sector unions, representing about two of every three Boeing Commercial Airplanes employees. I examine how it is that these unions remain strong and vital organizations representing a substantial portion of Boeing employees when so many other private sector labor unions have suffered massive membership losses. I explore, as well, the different paths these unions seem to be taking in their long run relationship with Boeing.