Boeing Machinists Vote on Union-Backed Contract Proposal, Issuing a Warning

Boeing's striking machinists, numbering over 32,000, are set to vote for the third time on a contract proposal this Monday. A simple majority approval could bring an end to the seven-week work stoppage that has significantly impacted the company's aircraft production, complicating what executives had hoped would be a year of recovery for Boeing.

Polls close at 7 p.m. PT, with results expected late Monday night.

The new proposal offers a 38% pay increase over four years, an increase from the 35% raise that workers rejected last month, which extended the strike. The initial contract that sparked the strike in September proposed a 25% raise, while the union had originally sought approximately 40%. Boeing estimates that machinists’ average pay would reach $119,309 by the end of this contract.

Workers have expressed frustration over the rising cost of living in the Seattle area, where most Boeing aircraft are manufactured. However, the union cautioned that this proposal might represent the best offer available.

“In every negotiation and strike, there comes a point where we have extracted all we can through bargaining and withholding labor,” stated the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 751. “We are at that point now and could face a lesser offer in the future.”

The union encouraged workers to take this opportunity to secure their gains and build on them in future negotiations, stating, “You can confidently declare victory, vote yes for this agreement, and build on this for generations to come.”

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who assumed leadership in August, also urged workers to return. In a note to staff, he acknowledged the difficulties caused by the strike for workers, customers, and suppliers, emphasizing the need to unite and focus on rebuilding the business.

To support its finances, Boeing has raised over $20 billion.