The article critiques the International Association of Machinists (IAM) for appealing to extreme-right politicians, including Senator Josh Hawley, during a strike involving 3,200 Boeing machinists in Missouri and Illinois. Strikers are seeking better wages, reduced healthcare costs, and the restoration of pension plans. The IAM’s letters to lawmakers, urging Boeing to negotiate fairly, are viewed as a betrayal of workers’ interests, especially given the union’s past failures during previous strikes.
The article argues that seeking mediation from the government, which is seen as a defender of capitalist interests, undermines workers’ efforts. It suggests that Boeing machinists should form rank-and-file committees to mobilize support from fellow workers instead of relying on the IAM’s bureaucracy. Furthermore, IAM President Brian Bryant’s comments on Boeing’s role in producing military equipment highlight a complicity with U.S. imperialism, exacerbating concerns about the union’s alignment with extreme right-wing politics. The article calls for workers to take control of their strike and to distance themselves from both the IAM and political establishments that fail to serve their interests.
