Machinists chief once called pensions 'sacred'

SEATTLE — The national union chief who has forced a vote on a pension-freezing Boeing contract proposal once called those retirement plans sacred and derided alternatives as risky.

In statements during the past few years, Tom Buffenbarger has advised union members about the importance of protecting defined-benefit pensions. He also warned that the union shouldn’t “fall prey to the trap that’s been set elsewhere by other companies and other industries where we don’t have pensions for new hires.”