Boeing workers vote on new contract that could end strike

The workers rejected 2 erstwhile statement offers from Boeing.

Tens of thousands of striking Boeing machinists are casting ballots connected Monday complete whether to o.k. a statement connection that could extremity their work stoppage aft 7 weeks.

The caller connection delivers higher salary increases and a bolstered ratification prize that would present each worker $12,000 if nan national approves nan deal, according to nan International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), nan national representing 33,000 Boeing workers successful Washington, Oregon and California.

The ongoing standoff has strained nan finances of some sides. Union members person received $250 per week from a onslaught fund, opening successful nan 3rd week of nan activity stoppage. That compensation marks a awesome salary trim for galore of nan employees.

Boeing and its shareholders person mislaid astir $5.5 cardinal since nan onslaught began successful September, according to an estimate past period from nan Anderson Economic Group. Shares of Boeing person plummeted 40% this twelvemonth but person ticked up somewhat complete nan past month.

Union members resoundingly defeated 2 erstwhile proposals from Boeing, but nan latest connection marks nan champion woody nan workforce is apt to receive, nan national said successful a nationalist missive to rank connected Saturday.

“This is genuinely nan clip to fastener successful these gains and activity to build much successful early negotiations,” IAM President Jon Holden and nan union’s negotiating committee told members. “Allow yourself to seizure this triumph and beryllium proud of your sacrifice.”

The projected statement would present a 38% raise complete nan four-year long of nan contract, upping nan 35% cumulative raise provided successful a erstwhile connection overwhelmingly rejected by workers successful a ballot 2 weeks ago. Workers had initially sought a 40% cumulative salary increase.

The connection besides calls for hiking Boeing's publication to a 401(k) plan, but it declines to fulfill workers' telephone for a reinstatement of nan company's defined pension. Workers mislaid a accepted pension scheme successful a statement ratified by nan national successful 2014.

Boeing mill workers and supporters stitchery connected a picket statement during nan 3rd time of a onslaught adjacent nan entranceway to a Boeing accumulation installation successful Renton, Wash., Sept. 15, 2024.

David Ryder/Reuters

Nearly 2 thirds of national members rejected nan astir caller statement connection successful a ballot past month. The result followed nan overwhelming defeat of a erstwhile connection successful September, which drew rebuke from much than 90% of national members.

“It’s clip we each travel backmost together and attraction connected rebuilding nan business and delivering nan world’s champion airplanes,” Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg wrote successful a memo to labor connected Friday. “There are a batch of group depending connected us.”

It will return a mostly ballot of national members to o.k. nan statement offer. If workers ratify nan deal, they tin return to activity arsenic early arsenic Wednesday, nan national said.

“​​The determination to extremity this onslaught is correct wherever it needs to beryllium -- successful nan membership’s hands,” Holden and nan negotiating committee said successful their nationalist letter.