[Myrddin]

Start an early holiday vacation period. Shutdown the whole operation until January 1st. Lock out the potential saboteurs. No payroll. Use the down time to reassess how to operate if the tax cliff and Obamacare aren't resolved. Consider opening applications for non-union workers in the US or factories offshore as necessary.

[shove_it]

How about this - hire a replacement workforce at the same pay and benefits last offered the union and immediately initiate a strong union avoidance education program with your management and workers. Then, after one year, commence a decertification election campaign with the objective of eliminating the IAM from the picture. It would also be wise to start up a machinist apprenticeship program to home grow skilled workers rather than hiring them from outside where they are virtually all union members.