4A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2005
PROTEST
Few turn out for troop rally
Evan Vucci/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ryan Bowman, Philadelphia, holds a sign on the National Mall in support of U.S. troops fighting abroad yesterday in Washington. Anti-war demonstrators protested across the street.
BY ELISABETH GOODRIDGE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Support for U.S. troops fighting abroad mixed with anger toward anti-war demonstrators at home as hundreds of people, far fewer than organizers had expected, rallied yesterday on the National Mall just a day after a massive protest against the war in Iraq.
"No matter what your ideals are, our sons and daughters are fighting for our freedom," said Marilyn Faatz, who drove from New Jersey to attend the rally. "We are making a mockery out of this. And we need to stand united, but we are not."
About 400 people gathered near a stage on an eastern segment of the mall, a large patchwork American flag serving as a backdrop.
Many demonstrators focused their ire at Cindy Sheehan, the California woman whose protest near President Bush's Texas home last summer galvanized the anti-war movement.
Sheehan was among the speakers at Saturday's rally near the Washington Monument on the western part of the mall, an event that attracted an estimated 100,000 people.
"The group who spoke here
the other day did not represent the American ideals of freedom, liberty and spreading that around the world," Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican, told the crowd. "I frankly don't know what they represent, other than to blame America first."
One sign on the mall read "Cindy Sheehan doesn't speak for me" and another "Arrest, the traitors"; it listed Sheehan's name first among several people who have spoken against the war.
Melody Vigna, 44, of Linden, Calif., said she wants nothing to do with Sheehan and others at nearby Camp Casey, an anti-war site set up to honor her son, Casey, who was killed in Iraq.
"Our troops are over there fighting for our rights, and if she was in one of those countries she would not be able to do that," Vigna said.
The husband of Sherri Francescon, 24, of Camp Lejeune, N.C., serves in the Marine Corps in Iraq.
One of the many military wives who spoke during the rally, Francescon said that the anti-war demonstration had left her frustrated.
"I know how much my husband does and how hard he works, and I feel like they don't even recognize that and give him the respect he deserves," Francescon said. "I want him to know and I want his unit to know that America is behind them, Cindy doesn't speak for us, and that we believe in what they are doing."
BUSINESS
BY ALLISON LYNN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ment Sunday and said union members would vote Thursday.
Boeing,union reach agreement
SEATTLE — The Boeing Co. and its Machinists union have reached a tentative contract agreement, which if approved would end a three-week strike that shut down airplane production.
Mark Blondin, district president for Machinists District Lodge 751 in Seattle, confirmed the agree-
"I'm just proud of our membership," Blondin said. "They stood solid, unified, and that solidarity is what finally got the company to do the right thing."
Boeing spokesman Charles Bickers said the company believed the deal is a fair compromise that puts more emphasis on things that matter.
Airbus is ahead on deliveries so far this year, with 216 planes delivered as of the end of July compared with 179 for Boeing.
"The total cost to Boeing is similar to the previous contract offer and meets our definition of a reasonable settlement," said Alan Mulally, head of Boeing's commercial airplanes division.
Pension payouts for union members would increase to $70 per month for every year served, up from $60 currently; the previous offer was $66. The company also agreed to continue retire medical benefits for new hires, Blondin said.
Blondin conceded Sunday that the union had hoped for a higher increase to pension payouts than is in the tentative agreement, but he said the fact that health care
There would be no general wage increase, but workers would receive an 8 percent signing bonus, or about $5,000, plus $3,000
The workers represented average 49 years of age, meaning many have set a priority on retirement benefits. They are paid an average of $59,000 a year.
According to Blondin, the deal calls for Boeing to make no changes to its health care plan, despite huge increases in health care costs nationwide. That's a major change from the premium and other increases Boeing demanded.
payouts wouldn't change was, in the end, better for workers.
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payouts in the second and third years, he said.
Boeing had racked up 529 orders through the end of July, compared with 299 orders for rival Airbus SAS.
Airbus is ahead on deliveries so far this year, with 216 planes delivered as of the end of July, compared with 179 for Boeing. Boeing expects to deliver 320 airplanes this year, and Airbus expects to deliver 360.
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