Fri Sep 13 04:56:00 UTC 2024: ## Boeing Workers Strike After Rejecting Contract Offer
**RENTON, WASHINGTON** – In a major blow to Boeing, 33,000 machinists at the troubled planemaker have voted overwhelmingly to strike, beginning Thursday night. The decision comes after union negotiations failed to reach an agreement on a new contract, with workers rejecting a 25% pay increase over four years.
The union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), argued that the proposed deal did not address their concerns regarding respect and future security. Workers highlighted a lack of pay increases in the past 16 years and the removal of traditional pensions a decade ago.
Boeing, facing a series of safety issues and financial losses, had described the offer as fair given its current circumstances. However, 94.6% of hourly workers rejected the proposal, followed by a 96% vote in favor of a strike.
The strike represents a further setback for Boeing, which has been struggling to regain public trust following two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max planes in 2018 and 2019. The company has also experienced issues with its spacecraft program, with NASA choosing to leave astronauts at the International Space Station for an extended period due to concerns about safety.
“This is about respect, this is about the past, and this is about fighting for our future,” stated IAM District 751 President Jon Holden.
The strike is expected to halt production of Boeing’s best-selling 737 Max airliner, as well as the 777 jet and 767 cargo plane. Analyst Cai von Rumohr estimates the strike could cost Boeing up to $3.5 billion in lost revenue.
While the union’s strike fund will provide $150 weekly payments to workers, the strike’s impact on the holiday season and Boeing’s long-term recovery remains uncertain. The company is hoping to reach a resolution before the strike stretches into mid-November.
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