A prominent Senate Democrat faced a chorus of boos from striking Boeing employees in Seattle this Tuesday.
The workers expressed their displeasure after the senator criticized former President Trump and held him responsible for the current housing crisis.
According to Fox News, Senator Maria Cantwell, the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, addressed the striking members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 751. She stated, "Housing everywhere in the United States of America is expensive as all get out. We haven't built enough supply." Cantwell further claimed that a bipartisan bill she was negotiating five years ago could have added up to a million housing units by now, but "Donald Trump came in and squashed that deal."
However, her remarks were met with a wave of boos, drowning out her speech and forcing her to pause. Once the disruption subsided, she resumed, emphasizing, "Everywhere in America we need more affordable housing."
Contrary to initial impressions, the booing was not directed at Trump's actions, but rather at Cantwell's attempt to politicize the issue. IAM 751 union member Dan Zahlman clarified this in an interview with "The Jason Rantz Show" on KTTH Seattle. He said, "She was trying to interject some left-wing radical politics into what is a very rare labor opportunity for IAM members to be able to try to make real gains in their retirement benefits. And that's not what we were there for." Zahlman also noted the significant support for Trump among union members, a fact he believes Cantwell overlooked.
Cantwell, who is up for re-election in the predominantly Democratic state of Washington next month, has not yet commented on the incident. The IAM 751 union, which boasts about 33,000 members, voted to strike last month, rejecting a contract that would have increased their pay by 25% over four years.
IAM District 751 President Jon Holden expressed the union's stance, stating, "This is about respect, this is about the past and this is about fighting for our future." Boeing, in response to the strike announcement, expressed its commitment to resetting its relationship with its employees and the union and its readiness to negotiate a new agreement.
As the strike continues, Boeing has revealed plans to raise approximately $25 billion through a stock and debt offering. The company also intends to initiate a $10 billion credit agreement to offset losses from the strike as debt payments approach. This incident underscores the complex interplay of politics, labor rights, and economic realities in the United States, with the voices of the workers echoing loud and clear.
Login