Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Rosie's Machinists 751 Caucus records, approximately 2013 - 2022
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Rosie's Machinists 751 Caucus
- Title
- Rosie's Machinists 751 Caucus records
- Dates
- approximately 2013 - 2022 (inclusive)20132022
- Quantity
- 0.19 cubic feet (1 box, including 2 flash drives)
- Collection Number
- 6463 (Accession No. 6463-001)
- Summary
- Records of a Boeing Company machinists' grassroots labor organization in Washington state
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
No restrictions on access.
No user access copy is currently available for flash drives, but users may obtain a reproduction of the media for a fee by contacting Special Collections.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Rosie's Machinists 751 was an unofficial caucus formed within the International Association of Machinists (IAM), District Lodge 751, in response to the actions of the Boeing Company in 2013.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
In 2013, the Boeing Company approached the International Association of Machinists (IAM), District Lodge 751, the union representing 33,000 workers at the aircraft-maker in Washington state, with a request to bargain over new conditions. The corporation wanted to revise the existing contract to obtain major concessions related to pensions and health care. If the union refused, the company would not produce its next airplane in Washington. The local union leadership refused to open the contract that was in force, but the Machinist Union International president in Washington, DC, agreed to do it and scheduled a contract vote. Members were stunned and rightly felt betrayed. They were being forced to forfeit the pension system they had won and maintained through many grueling strikes. Also at stake, Boeing wanted to shift healthcare costs onto members and to slow the wage progression system so a worker would have to toil for 20 years to reach top grade, rather than 6 years. Simultaneously, Boeing succeeded in extorting money from the state of Washington itself. The manufacturer threatened to move airplane production from Washington if it didn’t immediately cancel future taxes of 8.7 billion dollars. In a single week, the Washington legislature, with just three members opposing, gave the company what it demanded; that constitutes the largest-ever corporate tax subsidy in U.S. history. Critics pointed to a revolving door between the state’s government and Boeing.
The revolt was sparked by a veteran Machinist who was angered by a letter signed by the Boeing CEO that urged members to give up their pensions. He sent it to each member and printed it in full page ads in local newspapers. Veteran woman machinist Shannon Ryker wrote a reply to the company that captured the sentiments of many co-workers when it was printed in the Everett Herald newspaper. Many co-workers commended her stance and stepped forward, including future leaders of the group Cris Dofredo and Teresa Dofredo, who held the first meeting at their house in Sammamish, that included IAM retiree and labor veteran Henry Noble. Soon after, Ryker issued a call and formed Rosie’s Machinists 751 as an unofficial caucus in the union. The name hearkens back to Rosie the Riveter who built World War II airplanes. The group’s primary goal was to organize members in the plants to vote down the company’s proposal. They worked with and supported the brave members of the union business staff who held workplace meetings to provide information and build resistance. Rosie’s brought people together online to help workers find their voices in the plants, in the union halls, and in the community. The result of this organizing is that members bravely and overwhelmingly rejected the extortion contract by a 2-1 margin.
The union International, however, refused to accept the members’ decision and colluded with Boeing to force a second vote. The company tweaked their proposal and called it a new offer. Local leadership refused to countenance it and would not set the date for a vote. Boeing encouraged a group of members to demand a vote. This “let us vote” contingent was small but vocal and featured in the press. The International scheduled a second vote and scheduled it during the Christmas holidays when thousands of the more senior workers were out of town and unable to come to the union halls. Boeing and the International launched a fury of ads and editorials and press releases from elected officials -- a full court press by media and governments – that accused the members of being selfish and jeopardizing the future livelihoods of their neighbors and children if they once again refused the despised contract. Not one political or community leader supported the union members. In the end, by a margin of just 300 votes the 33,000 members lost their pensions and were burdened with major healthcare costs. The contract would be in force, with a no-strike provision, until 2024.
(Adapted from a note submitted to the Labor Archives of Washington by Teresa Dofredo, Shannon Ryker, and Henry Noble in March 2022.)
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains records from the Rosie’s Machinists Caucus in its struggle against pension cuts and benefit slashing at Boeing. Materials include a donor-provided introduction to the collection, photos, caucus members’ correspondence, caucus promotional materials, flyers, meeting minutes, and news articles about the organizing effort. This collection would be of particular interest to researchers interested in labor organizing at Boeing and rank-and-file-led grassroots organizing within unions.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Forms part of the Labor Archives of Washington.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in 3 series.
- Series 1, Donor-Provided Introduction, Timeline, and Caucus Memorabilia, 2013-2022
- Series 2, Photos, 2013-2014
- Series 3, "Vote No" Campaign Records, 2013-2015
Acquisition Information
Donated by Henry Noble on behalf of and with consent of Teresa Dofredo and Shannon Ryker. All were part of the Rosie's Machinists 751 Caucus and were involved in coordinating the compilation of this combined collection, 2022-04-01
Processing Note
Processed by Sherese Card, Celeste Leeds-Laliberte, and Kathryn Walters in 2023. Finalized by Eulalie Mathieu in 2023.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Donor-Provided Introduction, Timeline, and Caucus Memorabilia, approximately 2013-2022Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Donor-Provided Introduction, Timeline, and Caucus
Memorabilia |
approximately 2013-2002 | |
1/1 | Rosie's Business Cards |
approximately 2013-2002 |
1/1 | Rosie's Fighting Machinists Button |
approximately 2013-2002 |
1/1 | Rosie's Timeline of Boeing's Extortion and
Introduction |
approximately 2013-2002 |
1/1 | Rosie's in the Media |
approximately 2013-2002 |
1/1 | Digital Materials 2 flash drives
|
undated |
1/1 | Rosie's Fighting Machinists Artwork/Small
Poster |
approximately 2013-2002 |
Series 2: Photos, 2013-2014Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Photos |
approximately 2013-2014 | |
1/2 | International Association of Machinists and Aerospace
Workers/Boeing Contract Vote Card (Photo) |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | Re-Vote Rally Flyer |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | Shannon Ryker holding up "We Can Do It!" Poster
|
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | Group of Strikers |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | Person Holding up Two Rosie's Shirts |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | People with Strike Signs |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | People with Strike Signs |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | Rosie's Participation is Power Flyer |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | Save Our Jobs Rally 737 Jobs Flyer |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | Shannon Ryker with Unknown Person |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | Shannon Ryker with Three Other Individuals and a
'Support Machinists' Sign |
approximately 2013-2014 |
1/2 | Four People Standing in a Parking Lot with a "Rosie's
Machinists 751" Banner |
approximately 2013-2014 |
Series 3: "Vote No" Campaign Records, 2013-2015Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
2013 Records |
approximately 2013 | |
1/3 | Under My Thumb |
2013 November 14 |
1/3 | A Letter to International Association of Machinists
Members: Propaganda |
2013 December 4 |
1/3 | Machinists and Aerospace Workers Salary
Information |
approximately 2013 |
1/3 | Letter to Rosie's Members from Shannon
Ryker |
2013 December 7 |
1/3 | Letter to Rosie's Members |
approximately 2013 |
1/3 | My Overview of Boeing Doings by Henry Hoble
(Presentation Notes) |
2013 November 10 |
1/3 | Contract Proposal emails to Henry Hoble |
2013 November 6 |
1/3 | Call to Stand with Machinists "No VOTE on Boeing's
"crappy" Contract Offer!" |
2013 November 11 |
1/3 | Machinists Defeat Boeing Proposal, Boo Union Brass Who
Pushed It |
2013 November 14 |
1/3 | Will Boeing Workers Nix Givebacks in Forced
Re-vote? |
2013 December 31 |
1/3 | Boeing Blackmails Washington Workforce on 777X
Production |
2013 November 11 |
1/3 | How'd Seattle Do It? |
2013 December 16 |
2014 Records |
approximately 2014 | |
1/4 | Screenshot of Rosie's Website Homepage |
2014 |
1/4 | "we can do it"/ "give buffy the boot"
cartoon |
2014 November 9 |
1/4 | "Empowering Never Cowering" Rosie The
Riveter |
2014 November 9 |
1/4 | Remembering November |
approximately 2014 |
1/4 | Brief on involvement in Rosie's
Machinists-Linda |
2014 June 23 |
1/4 | My Notes on 8/22/14 Rosie's Caucus Meeting |
2014 August 26 |
1/4 | International Association of Machinists 751 Machinists
Demand Nullify The Vote |
approximately 2014 |
1/4 | Henry Noble Email to Shannon Ryker |
2014 February 19 |
1/4 | Boeing article draft to Freedom Socialist Newspaper by
Megan Cornish |
2014 February |
1/4 | Solidarity Rally Flyer |
2014 January 2 |
1/4 | District 751 REJECT! Word Game Flyer? |
approximately 2014 |
1/4 | Rosie's Rank & File Review Meet The Creator
Newsletter |
approximately 2014 |
1/4 | Rosie's Recommended Votes! |
approximately 2014 |
1/4 | "Please Join Us & Say NO to Public Officials
Interfering" Flyer |
2014 February 5 |
1/4 | Takeaways too great...VOTE NO! |
2014 January 7 |
1/4 | International Association of Machinists Members Info
Sheet |
approximately 2014 |
1/4 | Henry Noble Letter to Jim McNerney |
2014 July 20 |
1/4 | Second Vote at International Association of Machinists
Seattle Hall |
2014 January 3 |
1/4 | Rosie's GoFundMe Donations |
2014 January |
1/4 | Outrage at Boeing Spurs Reformers' Bid for Top Spots
in Machinists Union |
2014 February 12 |
1/4 | Machinists Reformers Get Third of Vote in First
Try |
2014 May 27 |
1/4 | Seattle Labor Rallies Behind 'No' Vote at
Boeing |
2014 January 3 |
1/4 | Meet Shannon Ryker |
2014 February |
1/4 | "Boeing Machinists Narrowly Approve End to
Pensions" |
2014 January 6 |
1/4 | "Boeing tactics a study in waning union clout; the
aerospace giant pits states against one another to pry concessions from
Seattle-area workers." |
2014 January 7 |
1/4 | Socialist Worker.org Interview with Shannon Ryker
Article: "We're saying no to the blackmailers at Boeing" |
2014 January 3 |
1/4 | Socialist Worker.org Interview with Shannon Ryker
Article: "We need a rank-and-file opposition at Boeing |
2014 February 11 |
1/4 | Meeting Minutes |
2014 January 18 |
1/4 | Meeting Minutes |
2014 January 25 |
1/4 | Meeting Minutes |
2014 January 31 |
1/4 | Meeting Minutes |
2014 March 7 |
1/4 | Meeting Minutes |
2014 March 16 |
1/4 | Meeting Minutes |
2014 June 20 |
1/4 | Meeting Minutes |
2014 August 22 |
1/4 | Meeting Minutes |
2014 September 21 |
1/4 | Meeting Agenda |
2014 September 13 |
1/4 | Meeting Minutes |
2014 |
1/4 | Finance Reports |
2014 January 27 |
1/4 | Draft Statement of Purpose |
2014 February 15 |
1/4 | Caucus Signup Sheet |
2014 March 27 |
1/4 | Caucus Bylaws Draft |
2014 November 9 |
1/4 | Photo of Poster/Sign: Good Leaders v Bad
Leaders |
2014 November 9 |
1/4 | Portland Reform (Photo) |
2014 November 9 |
1/4 | Town Hall (Photo) |
2014 November 9 |
1/4 | Buffy's Illegal Voter Suppression.... |
2014 March 30 |
1/4 | Meeting Notice |
2014 November 9 |
1/4 | Send Roach and Buffy Packing.... |
2014 February 5 |
1/4 | Meeting Notice |
2014 February 12 |
1/4 | Outrage at Boeing Spurs Reformers' Bid for Top Spots
in Machinists Union |
2014 February 12 |
1/4 | Email from Shannon Ryker to Henry Hoble |
2014 February 19 |
1/4 | International Association of Machinists 751 Machinists
Demand Nullify the Vote |
2014 February 5 |
1/4 | Meeting Notice/Flyer |
2014 February 5 |
2015 Records |
2015 | |
1/5 | Labor Notes News Watch, Letters to the Editor
"Machinists International Forced Boeing Vote" |
2015 |
1/5 | Boeing Union's Tough Lesson: Don't Bargain without
Leverage |
2015 September 4 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Labor Archives of Washington (University of Washington) (host institution)