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Boeing union decert in SEA - affect on local housing prices?

dlsdls
edited September 2009 in Seattle Real Estate
Ok, so, the workers at the (new) Boeing facility in South Carolina have voted out the IAM. Not sure if this will increase the probability of Boeing starting a second 787 assembly line near Charleston, but, what if the local Seattle area workers voted out the IAM? Assume that Boeing would continue operations here in the SEA area as-is but without a union production force. What would be the likely effects on the local (Seattle metro area) housing market due to local wage trends, employment stability, etc.

Note: In the interest of full disclosure let me say that I am an engineer in SPEEA, been in it since I hired in 25 years ago, went out on strike in 2000, and, if it went back to a voluntary union, would probably stay in because the benefits out weigh the detriments.

Comments

  • mukohmukoh
    The net effect would probably be lay offs of at least 20% of ex-union laborers as they are dead weight as it is with no productivity. Ex-union employees staying would receive the same take home pay as they were before, accept there won't be any overhead from unions and etc... New workers non union workers would be motivated to work harder, better, and at least have pants that are not 52+.

    and of course last but not least.

    THERE WILL NOT BE LAZY FAT PEOPLE STANDING ON AIRPORT RD in EVERETT WITH SIGNS!!!! COOKING HOT DOGS FOR MONTHS ON END TELLING EVERYONE HOW HARD THEY WORK.

    Disclosure. Only speaking in terms of machinists and manufacturing NOT ENGINEERS.. Spoken from words of a friend who was a machinist for 15+ years, and left in 2000 for better pastures.
  • davidloshdavidlosh
    If Boeing decerts it can leave Seattle, no hard feelings, just go away.

    The back lash will be another surplus of Boeing land with very little to maintain it's value.

    Washington is a socialist State, or that has been it's history. Having non Union workers is reprehensible to the people of this State.

    Any claim that it's better to have non Union jobs or no jobs at all is wrong.

    I agree Unions have gotten soft. It's the main reason huge corporations are in such devastating trouble today. By not paying living wages, with benefits, we have a weak health care system, lack of consumer confidence, and a mounting consumer debt.

    Non Union workers are bad for America and contrary to the American Way of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
  • mukohmukoh
    davidlosh wrote:
    Non Union workers are bad for America and contrary to the American Way of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

    Did you think before this sentence came out or it was another Lush burp?
  • WestSideBillyWestSideBilly
    mukoh wrote:
    The net effect would probably be lay offs of at least 20% of ex-union laborers as they are dead weight as it is with no productivity. Ex-union employees staying would receive the same take home pay as they were before, accept there won't be any overhead from unions and etc... New workers non union workers would be motivated to work harder, better, and at least have pants that are not 52+.

    20% layoffs? Try more like 50%. Replace "skilled" machinists (making $50k+ annual) with "unskilled" laborers for non-vital tasks; pay of these laborers will be less than $15/hr.

    "Skilled" machinists will see wage freezes or reductions, lose their premium health care and see annual increases in copay and deductibles, reduced vacation, etc.

    New workers will be motivated until they realize they're just another disposable asset in a giant cog, and will never be paid as well as their pre-decertification coworkers.

    ... and then Boeing will leave for somewhere they can pay their workers even less.
  • The_TimThe_Tim
    Most of the conversation on this thread had gotten way off the topic of Seattle Real Estate. The union argument has been split into Unions vs. Technology: Which Empowered Workers? in Everything Else
  • rose-colored-coolaidrose-colored-coolaid
    Probably a couple things would happen. Unlike most other major employers in the area, Boeing really is all over the Puget Sound. If the entire company pulled out, real estate in some suburbs like Everett would be decimated while downtown and central east side would be relatively less harmed.

    If anything, a decertification would probably keep more jobs here in the short term. Why move jobs to Carolina when you already have nonunion employees here? Longer term, I think you would see the earning power of machinists slip and that would almost certainly push prices down.
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