I worked at Boeing during 2 strikes. It's always a pain in the ass for the company and the union. They always find some middle ground after a couple of months. I'm guessing this will be no different. Only this time, the union is in a somewhat stronger position. Boeing will capitulate. Personally, I'd prefer them to bust the union.
Why do you think the union should be busted? I am not IAM, but whatever the machinists get, it gets passed on to the professionals and nonrepresented employees including management.
This strike started out on emotional grounds, they said that management didn't respect them, didn't address the issues they wanted. The economic package looked good. But that is often their case for a strike: lack of respect.
I understand both views: management and labor. I know the professional union will be looking for that sweet spot, where the Company will still make a fat profit for the shareholders, but share enough profit with the workers. The machinists union sometimes appears illogical.
If it wasn't for a strong union, big business would walk all over the worker, wouldn't they? White collar workers have leverage, they can move to better jobs, but blue collar workers don't have that mobility. They often have such menial jobs, so getting preceived respect is something they require.
But the idea of busting the union? What would it be like then? Labor unions fought to give us the 8-hour day and safe working conditions. We often forget the value of the traditional American labor union and how it helped shape our history and freedoms we enjoy in the workplace today.