Boeing, Striking Union Hold First Meeting Since Latest Contract Rejection

Striking Machinists Union and Boeing met for the first time since the union’s rejection of Boeing’s latest contract offer. The two sides discussed the outstanding issues and agreed to meet again next week. The union is seeking a 12% pay raise over three years, while Boeing has offered an 8% raise. The union also wants to preserve its pension plan, while Boeing wants to move to a 401(k) plan.

The strike has now entered its third week, and there is no end in sight. The strike is costing Boeing millions of dollars a day, and the union is losing about $10 million a day in wages. Both sides are under pressure to reach an agreement, but there is still a lot of disagreement on the key issues.

The strike is the first major labor action at Boeing in decades. The last strike at Boeing was in 2008, and it lasted for 57 days. The strike is also the first major labor action in the aerospace industry since the United Auto Workers strike at General Motors in 2019.

The strike is having a ripple effect on the broader economy. Suppliers to Boeing are also being affected, and some companies have had to lay off workers. The strike is also hurting the local economy in the Puget Sound region, where Boeing is based.

The strike is a major test for Boeing and the union. Both sides are under pressure to reach an agreement, but there is still a lot of disagreement on the key issues. The strike is likely to continue for several more weeks, and it is unclear how it will end.

In addition to the pay and pension issues, the two sides are also disagreeing over other issues, such as job security and healthcare. The union is concerned that Boeing is outsourcing too many jobs, and it wants the company to commit to creating more jobs in the United States. The union also wants Boeing to provide better healthcare benefits.

Boeing has said that it is committed to reaching a fair agreement with the union, but it has also said that it needs to make changes to its business in order to remain competitive. The company has said that it is willing to discuss the union’s concerns, but it has also said that it will not agree to any demands that would hurt the company’s competitiveness.

The strike is a major challenge for both Boeing and the union. Both sides are under pressure to reach an agreement, but there is still a lot of disagreement on the key issues. The strike is likely to continue for several more weeks, and it is unclear how it will end.