Boeing factory workers vote whether to strike and shut down aircraft production
Boeing is waiting to find out whether 33,000 aircraft assembly workers are going on strike and shutting down production of the company’s best-selling planes
SEATTLE — SEATTLE (AP) — Boeing waited to learn Thursday whether 33,000 aircraft assembly workers, most of them in the Seattle area, will go on strike and shut down production of the company's best-selling planes.
Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers were voting on whether to approve a contract offer that includes 25% pay raises over four years. If the factory workers reject the contract and two-thirds of them vote to strike, a work stoppage would begin Friday at 12:01 a.m. PDT.
A walkout would not cause flight cancellations or directly affect airline passengers, but it would be another blow to Boeing's reputation and finances in a year marked by problems in its airplane, defense and space operations.
New CEO Kelly Ortberg made a last-ditch effort to avert a strike, telling machinists Wednesday that “no one wins” in a walkout.
“For Boeing, it is no secret that our business is in a difficult period, in part due to our own mistakes in the past,” he said. “Working together, I know that we can get back on track, but a strike would put our shared recovery in jeopardy, further eroding trust with our customers and hurting our ability to determine our future together.”
Many union members have posted complaints about the deal all week on social media. On Thursday, several dozen blew whistles, banged drums and held up signs calling for a strike as they marched to a union hall near Boeing’s 737 Max plant in Renton, Washington.
“As you can see, the solidarity is here,” said Chase Sparkman, a quality-assurance worker. “I’m expecting my
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