Thousands of Boeing workers in Washington began striking on Friday following a decisive rejection of a contract proposal negotiated by their union with the aerospace company.
The International Association of Machinists District 751 reported that 94.6% of its voting members turned down the proposed deal, while 96% supported the strike action. This union represents approximately 33,000 workers, primarily based in Washington State.
“This is about respect, addressing past issues, and fighting for our future,” said Jon Holden, President of IAM District 751, during his announcement of the strike vote results to a supportive crowd.
Holden characterized the strike as an unfair labor practice strike, alleging that Boeing engaged in discriminatory practices, coercive questioning, unlawful surveillance, and made illegal promises of benefits.
“Boeing must stop violating the law and negotiate in good faith,” he stated. “We are ready to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.”
The rejected contract included provisions for a 25% wage increase over four years and a commitment to produce the next commercial airplane in the Puget Sound area. However, machinists expressed dissatisfaction with the pay terms, arguing that the loss of a bonus had diminished the value of the wage increase.
Boeing highlighted that under the proposed contract, average annual pay for machinists would have risen from $75,608 to $106,350 over four years, not accounting for overtime or the potential for increased pay that machinists earn after six years.
“The message from our members is clear: the tentative agreement we reached with IAM leadership was unacceptable,” Boeing stated following the strike vote. “We remain dedicated to improving our relationship with employees and the union and are eager to return to negotiations.”
The last time machinists went on strike was in 2008, with that strike lasting approximately eight weeks.
This work stoppage occurs amid Boeing’s financial challenges, as the company reported a quarterly loss exceeding $1.4 billion in the second quarter of the year and saw its debt increase from $48 billion to nearly $58 billion.
Boeing is currently attempting to navigate through a difficult period, which included an incident in January where a door plug malfunctioned on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max midflight. Furthermore, in July, Boeing reached a plea deal with federal authorities related to crashes in 2018 and 2019 that resulted in 346 fatalities, agreeing to pay a minimum fine of $243.6 million and invest $455 million in safety and compliance initiatives. In 2021, the company faced a $2.5 billion penalty as part of a legal settlement concerning the 737 Max.