Next, they'll hold their breath 'til they turn blue

Go ahead and strike while on the C17 line. I mean, having a job in this economy isn't enough, right? You gotta have a better *pension*?! Here's a thought - manage your own damn money correctly and pay your own freakin' pension. Because if you bitch and moan too much, the the government is going to take it's money-ball and go home, and you're left with -no- job to fund your non-pension.

"While both the union and Boeing talk about the potential for more sales to keep the line open, this may effectively seal its fate. ... The defenders of the program in Congress have pretty well spent their chips on past rescues of the program," Plucker said in an interview.

The 1,700 assembly-line workers at the Long Beach, plant walked picket lines last week, demanding better pension and medical benefits. Talks between management and the United Aerospace Workers broke down after employees rejected a 46-month contract offer from the company.

Boeing builds 16 C-17s a year, primarily for the U.S. Air Force, with a price tag of about $200 million each. But orders have been declining for the pricey jet, and the company recently said it would lower its annual production rate to 10 by mid-2011.

The U.S. military has sought to end the program and instead upgrade its aging Lockheed Martin Corp. C-5 Galaxy fleet at a fraction of the cost. It also wants to buy more C-130 Hercules planes, a smaller transport aircraft that has proved versatile in wars in the Middle East.

This continuing downfall of America is brought ot you by another unionized workforce.

By: Brant