SEATTLE — Aircraft assembly workers initiated a strike early Friday at Boeing factories near Seattle after union members decisively rejected a tentative contract that aimed to raise wages by 25% over four years.
The strike began at 12:01 a.m. PDT, following an announcement that 94.6% of voting workers opposed the proposed contract, while 96% supported the strike, exceeding the required two-thirds majority.
This labor action includes 33,000 Boeing machinists, primarily located in Washington state, and threatens to halt production of the company’s most popular airline models. While commercial flights remain unaffected, the strike marks another challenge for Boeing, which has already faced significant issues this year including manufacturing challenges and several federal investigations.
The machinists are critical to the assembly of the 737 Max, the 777, and the 767 cargo plane at factories in Renton and Everett, Washington. Production of the Boeing 787 Dreamliners may continue unaffected, as they are assembled by nonunion workers in South Carolina.
Currently, machinists earn an average salary of $75,608 annually, not including overtime, with projections indicating an increase to $106,350 by the end of the proposed contract. Nonetheless, the offer fell short of the union’s initial request for a 40% pay raise over three years and failed to restore traditional pensions eliminated a decade ago, resulting in a compromise of increased employer contributions to 401(k) plans.
Outside the Renton factory, workers displayed signs expressing their discontent and rallied to music that underscored their frustrations.
In response to the strike, Boeing stated that it is prepared to reengage in negotiations to forge a new agreement. The company acknowledged the clear message sent by workers about the unacceptable nature of the previous tentative deal.
Boeing’s challenges have compounded throughout the year, from a major malfunction in January to incidents involving problematic spacecraft just last month. The ongoing strike will likely hinder Boeing’s cash flow, as it relies on delivering new aircraft to maintain financial stability.
Newly appointed CEO Kelly Ortberg, who took on the role just six weeks prior, faces the formidable task of reviving a company that has incurred over $25 billion in losses in the last six years and is struggling to compete with European rival Airbus.
Ortberg made a final effort to prevent the strike, emphasizing that the consequences of a walkout would jeopardize Boeing’s recovery and harm relationships with airline clients. He pointed to the company’s challenging situation and stressed the importance of collaboration to overcome past mistakes.
IAM District 751 President Jon Holden noted the deep-rooted frustrations among machinists regarding stagnant wages and previous concessions made to protect jobs, emphasizing that the strike is fundamentally about respect and securing a better future.
The strike vote also serves as a rebuke to union leaders, who had recommended acceptance of the contract. Moving forward, the union plans to gauge member concerns for priority issues as negotiations resume.
