Boeing Factory Workers Strike Update: Talks Break Off With Company
The union representing Boeing factory workers currently on strike in the Pacific Northwest announced that contract talks with the company have “broke off” after their latest bargaining session.
In a statement posted on social media platforms X and Facebook, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers asserted that Boeing refused to engage substantively on key issues such as higher pay and the restoration of a defined-benefit pension that was eliminated a decade ago.
No further negotiation dates were scheduled following the session led by federal mediators. However, the union remains open to talks with the company, either directly or mediated.
Boeing, in a response to the Associated Press, stated that it is prepared to meet at any time, committed to good-faith bargaining, and eager to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
Boeing issued its “best and final” offer, which included pay raises of 30% over four years, in response to the strike by nearly 33,000 machinists. Despite the revised offer, many workers felt that it wasn’t sufficient.
The strike, now in its third week, has halted production of Boeing’s best-selling airplanes but is not expected to disrupt airline flights soon. The ongoing strike adds pressure to the company already facing financial, legal, and mechanical challenges this year.
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