Aerospace Manufacturing
An End in Sight? Machinist Union Votes on Latest Contract Offer from Boeing
RENTON, WA— About 33,000 members of the Machinists Union are voting today on Boeing's latest contract offer, which was tentatively agreed upon last week.
The proposed contract includes a 38% wage increase over four years, with a 13% raise in the first year, 9% in years two and three, and 7% in the fourth year. The union is also offering a $12,000 ratification bonus, combining a $7,000 bonus with a $5,000 lump sum contribution to workers’ 401(k)s. Boeing has promised to continue building its next plane in the Seattle area, a pledge that may be at risk if the contract is rejected.
Despite the offer’s improvements over previous ones, many union members, particularly those who had hoped for a return of traditional pensions, remain dissatisfied. Some workers are pushing to vote “no” due to a lack of pension restoration, while others feel the latest deal may be the best they can get. Union leadership is urging ratification, but division remains among the membership.
The Biden administration, including Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, has been involved in the talks, highlighting the significance of the strike. Should the vote pass, workers could return as early as Wednesday, with a deadline for return by November 12.
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