Boeing workers have gone on strike after rejecting a tentative agreement that included a 25pc pay rise, with over 30,000 workers in Seattle and Portland participating in the walkout starting at midnight Pacific Time on Friday.
The strike presents a significant challenge for Boeing as it faces financial losses and a damaged reputation due to previous safety issues, including two fatal crashes.
Nearly 95pc of union members, involved in producing aircraft like the 737 Max and 777, voted against the pay deal, with 96pc supporting strike action until a new agreement is reached; this reflects a major breakdown in trust between management and workers.
Analysts warn that a prolonged strike could result in substantial financial losses for Boeing and its suppliers, recalling the $1.5 billion monthly cost during a previous eight-week strike in 2008, while the length of the current strike remains uncertain.
The union’s rejection of Boeing’s offer, which included a 25pc pay increase over four years, surprised outsiders, even though negotiators described it as the best deal from Boeing to date.
Despite the offer, union members, who sought a 40pc increase, voted overwhelmingly against it, driven by demands for better job security, more time off, and higher wages due to inflation.
Much of the discontent stems from Boeing’s history of building a nonunion plant in South Carolina and shifting Dreamliner production there, which increased resentment among union employees.
This strike reflects a broader resurgence of union power in the U.S., contrasting with previous concessions made by the union to support Boeing during economic hardships, emphasizing the differing contexts of labour negotiations.
