Factory workers at Boeing’s U.S. West Coast factories are on strike after rejecting an offer that would have given workers a 25 percent wage increase over the next four years and a $3,000 signing bonus, as well as a pledge to build the next commercial jet in the area if the contract was launched over the contract’s four-year term.
The already beleaguered manufacturer suffered the blow when 96 percent voted in favor of strike action, which halted production of its 737 MAX and other jets while it struggles with delays and debt loads. The union did recommend that its members accept the contract, a decision that was met with anger as workers were originally seeking a 40 percent pay raise and took issue with the loss of an annual bonus.
The first full contract for around 30,000 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) members in 16 years, the deal was not deemed acceptable and workers felt more needed to be done to address issues that have occurred in the security of the future of the plane maker and their careers and livelihoods.
Boeing hopes to return to the bargaining table as quickly as possible because of the potential damage a prolonged strike could cause, especially since consumer sentiment is already down around the company, as are shares, as confidence in its safety program has significantly diminished in the wake of past incidents including the two fatal crashes and the door issue on the Alaska Airlines flight.
