Troubled Boeing seeks to avoid fresh nightmare with 25% raises amid strike threat
IndependentSEP 13 2024
A reported 94-95% of Boeing's 33K US manufacturing workers—representing a fifth of its total US staff—voted to reject their new contract offer Friday night, with 96% voting to go on strike.A reported 94-95% of Boeing's 33K US manufacturing workers—representing a fifth of its total US staff—voted to reject their new contract offer on Friday, with 96% voting to go on strike.
Most of the workers are part District 751 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union, which is Boeing's largest union and covers mostly the Seattle, Wash., area. The rest are from District W24 in Portland, Ore.Most of the workers belong to District 751 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union, which is Boeing's largest union and covers mostly the Seattle, Washington, area. The rest of the workers belong to District W24 in Portland, Oregon.
The contract offer included a 25% pay raise over four years, a $3K signing bonus, better retirement and health benefits, and a pledge to manufacture Boeing's next commercial jet in the Seattle area.The contract offer included a 25% pay raise over four years, a $3K signing bonus, better retirement and health benefits, and a pledge to manufacture Boeing's next commercial jet in the Seattle area if the venture begins during the contract's four-year term.
While a 25% pay raise sounds nice on its face, many of these workers make $20 per hour or less —which makesmeaning 25%the aproposal dropwon't ineven thesee bucketthem keep up with inflation. Seattle is one of the most expensive places to live in the country, which is why these men and women, who work dangerous factory jobs every day, are rightfully fighting to for a living wage for themselves and their families.
While this vote certainly shows that unions still have some power, that won't last forever as technology replacesthreatens to replace human labor. CorprationsCorporations across the country have had to layoff non-union workers, and even some union workers, due to rising costs. And even beforewithout technologyconsidering takesthe overtechnology human laborfactor, American manufacturing companies are already beginning to shift their factories to Mexico.