Mitch McComb, Meatcutter, Kent

---

"Well, I think they've got a legitimate complaint. They want to hold onto what they have in the way of medical benefits, and that's really important these days because a lot of companies seem to be cutting back... Years ago, benefits and retirement were pretty much intact -- now they're taking them away. The machinists just want to hang onto what they have... With wages going back and benefits going up, how are we going to pay for them? It'd be nice if we had something to pay into, like Social Security, to have medical benefits."

Kim Menown, Full-time student & part-time leasing consultant, Kirkland

---

"I don't know enough about it. I would care because it will affect the labor market, but as far as what's going on, I don't know enough... Perhaps they're asking for more because later on, the country might go into a recession, and the machinists want to get things now while they have more power... I can see taking advantage of the situation now rather than suffering for it later. I think it depends on the leverage they have now, as far as their bargaining goes, because Boeing is doing good now... I think everyone is afraid and everyone wants to save while they can."

Johnny Drago, Salesman, Bellevue

---

"It should continue. The answer that the machinists are making a lot of money in today's market is ridiculous -- they can't make the obligations they already have. That's why women have been going to work... People complain about family values but with the wives having to go to work and not be with the kids -- what kind of family values is that? That's not good family values when you can't even afford to raise a family... The worst inflation is to stay at the same wage -- you're losing every day..."

Juan Jimenez, Cook, Bellevue

---

"I don't know... Strikes aren't good for small businesses, but a big business... I don't really know what's going on because I'm busy working."

Larry Harrison, Mortgage broker, Renton

---

"I think that the machinists are fortunate to have what they have and to strike over these issues is somewhat unrealistic in this atmosphere... So many of us have to participate 100 per cent in our medical coverage -- our benefit packages and 401K plans... I think that based on a competitive international market, Boeing employees will have to realize that their demands will put Boeing out of business. We have to be competitive on an international level now..."

Shannon Bryson, Registered nurse, Seattle

---

"That's a tough one for me. At the present time, in order to keep my job, I'm forced to be a member of Local 1199, a part of the AFL-CIO health care employees division. If I'm not a member of the union, I can't work at Harborview as a nurse... I support anyone's right to join a union and strike. However, I don't support being forced to join a union, or to be forced to be part of a strike... I think that both sides have very valid concerns and those concerns reflect what's occurring essentially throughout the U.S. Corporations are needing to consolidate and employees are not wanting to give up benefits they already have and have earned. It's a dilemma."

Copyright © 1995 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

If you'd like to comment on this Q, you can e-mail JA Editorial Page Editor Craig Groshart by clicking here. Please be sure to include the following in your message:

Thanks for stopping by and reading "Today's Issue"!