I missed the staff meeting but the minutes show "PrecisionMachinisT"
wrote back on Sat, 5 Mar 2005 23:46:52
-0800 in rec.crafts.metalworking :

"carl mciver" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Machinists" is a general term for all the mechanics, electricians,
plumbers, etc that build the planes. Name of the union, IAM, BTW. In
order to be a "real" machinist at Boeing, you have to go through an
apprenticeship which you really have to want in order to get it. I'm
thinking about it, but not willing to take a 25% pay cut in order to get better pay five
years down the road.


They just are all members of IAM is what they have in common--the
apprentice program really has little bearing.

During the time I was with Boeing, I held at least temporary union
classifications for lathes, milling machines, boring mill, grinding machine,
cnc multiple tool, machine cell operator, maintenance machinist, toolmaker
and probly a few more.

I never went through their apprentice program though--why should I .....that
would have meant substantial pay cut right at the get-go......

But does this all mean Im not *really* a machinist ???

Ummm, take it up with either the union or management, which ever you
think will get you the answer you want. :-)

--
pyotr filipivich.
as an explaination for the decline in the US's tech edge, James
Niccol wrote "It used to be that the USA was pretty good at
producing stuff teenaged boys could lose a finger or two playing with."