Talks between Boeing and its biggest union are coming down to the wire - and a possible strike
Boeing and its largest union are entering the last week of contract negotiations before a threatened strike by more than 30,000 workers
DALLAS — DALLAS (AP) — Boeing and its largest union are entering the last week of contract negotiations before a threatened strike by more than 30,000 workers who build the planes that carry millions of airline passengers every year.
A walkout would add to the headwinds facing Boeing, which is hurtling toward a sixth straight money-losing year and just hired a new CEO to turn things around.
The regional branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers says the two sides are far apart on wages, health care and job security. The union of started out seeking pay raises of more than 40% over three years, although «that's probably not where we're going to end up,” IAM District 751 President Jon Holden said last week.
The union has scheduled a two-part election for Thursday, with voting at more than a half-dozen locations in Washington state and one in Southern California. Workers will vote on Boeing’s last contract offer and whether to authorize a strike if the offer is rejected. A walkout could begin by Friday morning.
A straw vote in July to gauge support for a strike passed with 99.99% support, according to the union.
»What we are asking for is reasonable,” Holden said in an interview. “We need to get more wages to address the very low increases over the last 10 years, massive inflation, massive cost-shift on health care. We are trying to reach an agreement, but (union members) are ready to take action if we don't get there.”
Holden said the union has a strike fund in the millions and isn’t afraid to tap it.
Boeing declined to make an executive available to
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