Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) will start “mediated negotiations” in a bid to end ongoing strike action, the two sides have announced.
More than 33,000 workers walked off their jobs on September 13, 2024, after overwhelmingly rejecting a new contract offer.
On September 25, 2024, the IAM District 751 issued a statement saying that the Union Negotiating Committee and Boeing will meet with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) on September 27, 2024, “to continue mediated negotiations”.
“The Union is ready for this opportunity to bring forward the issues that members have identified as critical to reaching an agreement. We know that the only way to resolve this strike is through negotiations,” the union said.
The union stated that after a “decade of hard work and sacrifice to keep Boeing flying high”, the company’s leadership rewarded themselves with record bonuses, while the workers who built the aircraft and carried the company through its darkest times, “struggled to make ends meet”. The union added that it is “time for Boeing to make things right for its workforce”.
“The men and women who keep Boeing’s assembly lines moving and ensure quality and safety at every step deserve more than token gestures. It’s time for Boeing to step up, recognize who has kept this company afloat, and offer a contract worthy of that effort and sacrifice,” the union continued.
According to local media reports, Boeing confirmed the planned negotiations on September 27, 2024, but did not provide any additional comments.
On September 23, 2024, Boeing offered an improved “best and final contract offer”, which included a 30% salary increase for employees over the next four years, along with other bonuses. However, the District 751 members strongly turned it down, stating “the company’s latest offer didn’t meet their needs”.
The union is asking for a 40% salary increase and wants to bring back the traditional pension plan, which was removed around 10 years ago.
