Boeing

Boeing Machinists End 53-Day Strike With 38 Percent Raise

November 6, 2024 Jenny Brown, Labor Notes. Resist! Boeing, Strikes, Unions, Worker Rights and Jobs

Striking Boeing Machinists will start returning to work tomorrow after voting for a new contract with substantial wage increases. The 33,000 Seattle-area Machinists voted 59 percent to accept, just two weeks after two-thirds of them voted to reject a slightly worse contract. Voting was more subdued this time, workers said. “The big difference in this contract is that we're getting a lot of intimidation from our CEO now,” said striker Mylo Lang. He voted no. “We put in a long, hard fight. We achieved a lot,” said Jon Voss, a steward at the Renton factory, where they build the 737. “Boeing does not get to be the bully that they have been for the past 25 years.”

‘Not Good Enough’: Striking Machinists Reject New Boeing Offer

October 24, 2024 Jenny Brown, Labor Notes. Resist! Boeing, Strikes, Unions, Worker Rights and Jobs

After 40 days on strike, 33,000 Machinists rejected an improved contract offer from Boeing by 64 percent on Wednesday. The offer included a 35 percent wage increase over 4 years. Members of Machinists (IAM) District 751 and District W24 build passenger jets and and freighters, including the 737, 767, and 777. Most work at Boeing’s huge factories at Everett and Renton, Washington. “It’s a little bit better, but it still needs to go further,” said Ky Carlson, who was staffing a picket line at Everett on Tuesday, where she would normally be assembling the 777.

Boeing Strike Continues

October 11, 2024 Don McIntosh, NW Labor Press. Resist! Boeing, Strikes, Unions, Worker Rights and Jobs

Roughly 33,000 Machinists union members are now in the fourth week of a historic strike at Boeing with no obvious end in sight. While technically an unfair labor practice strike, union members have made it clear what will resolve it: pay raises that catch them up for inflation, quicker wage progression, more paid time off, and above all restoring the pension that Boeing took away in 2016. “If we can get pensions back, that could be a game changer for labor across the entire country,” said striker Scott Lacey, a member of Local Lodge 63. “People would realize that you can get it back.” On Sept. 23, Boeing announced a new contract offer, but did so in a press release and directly to members instead of to their union in bargaining.

Dispatch From The Boeing Picket Lines

September 27, 2024 Samuel Karlin, Left Voice. Resist! Boeing, Oregon, Palestine, Strikes, Washington, Worker Rights and Jobs

When I booked a trip to the Pacific Northwest back in April, I didn’t think for a second that it would align perfectly with the largest strike in the United States so far this year. I just thought I’d be hiking and see the world’s largest rubber chicken in Seattle. But then 33,000 machinists at Boeing voted overwhelmingly to strike, despite the International Association of Machinists bureaucracy pushing workers to accept a sell-out contract. Less than a week later I was lucky enough to meet some of these workers on the picket lines. The flight from Newark to Seattle was six hours on a Boeing plane, so even before reaching the picket I was reminded of just how different mine and so many people’s lives would be if not for the machines these workers build.

Boeing Workers Are Uniquely Situated To Disrupt The Global Economy

September 26, 2024 Jason Koslowski and James Dennis Hoff, Left Voice. Strategize! Boeing, Global Economy, IAM, Strikes, Unions, Worker Rights and Jobs

It’s been almost two weeks since more than 33,000 Boeing workers in Washington and Oregon went on strike, crippling one of the largest aerospace companies in the world. Since then Boeing has lost more than $500 million and is losing millions more every day. Thanks in large part to a series of terrible decisions, they seem unprepared to weather a long strike, but the struggle at Boeing has significant international implications as well. Boeing, after all, is the largest exporter in the United States by dollar value, the biggest supplier of commercial aircraft in the United States, and one of the main manufacturers of the weapons that Israel is using in both its genocide in Gaza and its war against Lebanon.

Can The Machinists Save Boeing From Its Management?

September 24, 2024 Jenny Brown, Labor Notes. Resist! Boeing, Quality, Strikes, Worker Rights and Jobs

Boeing has increased its offer to striking Machinists, hoping to end a work stoppage that entered its eleventh day today. According to the Seattle Times, the new proposal would raise wages 30 percent over four years, as opposed to 25 percent in the offer that workers rejected by 94.6 percent. Mediated talks with Boeing broke off September 18, the union said, with nothing more scheduled. Then on Monday morning, the company announced a new offer in the press. Twelve hours later, the union responded that Boeing “has missed the mark with this proposal.” In a scathing statement, the negotiating team noted that the company misled the press “by wrongfully stating that the union membership is required to vote on the their latest offer... They are trying to drive a wedge between members with this divisive strategy.”

Boeing Should Stop Making Weapons For Genocide

September 19, 2024 Mike Pappas, Left Voice. Strategize! airplanes, Boeing, Genocide, Strikes, Transportation safety, Wars and Militarism, Worker Rights

Recently, Boeing employees, members of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM), voted overwhelmingly to not only turn down a terrible union backed tentative agreement, but go out on strike. These workers are showing they are willing to fight for more and are tired of being forced to cut corners on production, putting the public in danger to maximize profits for Boeing’s executives. If cutting corners wasn’t bad enough, Boeing’s leadership has focused on continuing to supply weapons to Israel supporting its genocidal campaign on Palestine. Boeing needs to stop making weapons for genocide and start fixing their planes.

Boeing Machinists Strike

September 14, 2024 Jenny Brown, Labor Notes. Resist! Boeing, Strikes, Unions, Washington State

Third-shift workers walked out of Boeing’s giant factories at Renton and Everett, Washington, as their contract expired early Friday morning, blasting music and airhorns, shooting off fireworks, and waving hand-made signs. They immediately formed picket lines and began setting up homemade burn barrels with “IAM” carved in the side. “People are really excited to strike,” said Ky Carlson, a third-shift assembler who walked out at midnight and was picketing the Everett plant at 3 am. She said they were aiming for what the union demanded at the beginning of negotiations, 40 percent raises and restoration of the pension.

‘Hard No’: Boeing Workers React To Tentative Agreement

September 11, 2024 Jenny Brown, Labor Notes. Resist! Boeing, Strikes, Unions, Worker Rights and Jobs

With their contract expiring at midnight on Thursday, the Machinists union at the aircraft giant Boeing announced a tentative contract agreement September 8. It was a shock to many union members. “Insulting,” “Joke of a contract,” and “Hard no” were some of the more polite reactions registered on X in response to the proposal, which would raise wages 25 percent over the four-year life of the deal, but eliminate an annual bonus of 3 to 6 percent of wages. The 32,000 members of Machinists (IAM) District 751 in Washington and District W24 in Gresham, Oregon, will vote in person September 12 on the deal. A walkout requires a majority vote to reject the agreement plus two-thirds support for a strike.

Striking Is In The Air At Boeing

August 22, 2024 Jenny Brown, Labor Notes. Resist! Boeing, Strikes, Unions, Worker Rights

Mondays and Wednesdays are loud at the vast Boeing factory in Everett, Washington. As the Machinists’ contract campaign heats up, the workforce has been serenading management at lunch with air horns, train horns, and vuvuzelas—plus chants of “Out the Door in ’24.” Forty miles south, in Renton, where workers construct the moneymaking 737, second shift workers have used their meal breaks to blast Bluetooth speakers at top volume with ’90s rap, death metal, ’80s pop, and opera—all simultaneously, said Jon Voss, a 13-year mechanic in the wings building. The resulting racket “really drove management and HR nuts.”

Boeing Pleads Guilty To Criminal Fraud: The Continuing 737 Max Saga

July 14, 2024 Prabir Purkayastha, People's Dispatch. Educate! Boeing, Boeing 747, Corporate greed, Corruption, NASA, Neoliberalism

Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge regarding the two crashes of 737 Max airplanes that caused the death of 346 passengers on two flights: a Lion Air flight out of Indonesia in October 2018 and an Ethiopian Airlines flight in March 2019. Though Boeing had tried hard to convince the world that these accidents occurred due to poorly trained pilots in the third world, there was overwhelming evidence that Boeing had made significant changes to the flight control systems while hiding them from the US Federal Aviation Administration and the concerned airlines. The Seattle Times, which has done the most work in detailing the cause of the crashes and the failure of Boeing and the federal aviation regulator, described the settlement, “The plea deal… calls for Boeing to pay an additional $243.6 million fine.

Locked-Out Firefighters Picket Boeing

May 10, 2024 Luis Feliz Leon, Labor Notes. Resist! Boeing, Firefighters, Strikes, Washington State, Worker Rights, Workplace Safety

The aerospace giant Boeing locked out 125 firefighters across multiple facilities in Washington state May 4 after contract negotiations broke down. “We want to be out there working and protecting the community of Boeing employees,” said firefighter Jon Riggsby, vice-president-elect of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local I-66. “But the company won’t allow us.” Boeing firefighters are on hand for fueling, takeoffs, and landings. They also respond to any medical emergencies at company facilities in Seattle, Everett, Renton, Auburn, and Moses Lake. They’re the first line of defense to prevent the spread of flame and toxic emissions from the combination of materials used to build aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Triple Seven, and others as part of military contracts.

Portland State University Will ‘Pause’ Donations From Boeing

May 2, 2024 Middle East Monitor. Resist! BDS Movement, Boeing, Israel, Palestine, Portland, Portland State University, Student Activism, Victory

Portland State University (PSU) will temporarily halt donations from Boeing, responding to student calls to cut ties with the giant aerospace and missile manufacturer amidst Israel’s war on Gaza. President Ann Cudd stated in an open letter released Friday that PSU plans to organise a forum in May to address student concerns regarding their affiliations with the multibillion-dollar weapons manufacturer. She wrote: “PSU will pause seeking or accepting any further gifts or grants from the Boeing Company until we have had a chance to engage in this debate and come to conclusions about a reasonable course of action.”

Rutgers Profits From Boeing Airstrikes Launched On Gaza

March 30, 2024 Endowment Justice Collective, Mondoweiss. Resist! Boeing, Divestment, Genocide, Palestine, Rutgers, Student Activism, weapons

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, must divest its endowment fund from companies and organizations that profit from, engage in, or contribute to the government of Israel’s human rights violations. An excellent example of this is that Rutgers profits off of Boeing airstrikes launched at Palestinians. Boeing is the 3rd largest military company. Likewise, it is part of Rutgers’ $100 million investment1 in the PGIM-Quantitative Solutions (US) fund2. Boeing—and by EXTENSION, Rutgers—relies on Palestinian suffering to raise its profits.

Boeing Back In Bargaining For The First Time In 16 Years

March 20, 2024 Don McIntosh, NW Labor Press. Resist! Airlines, Boeing, History, Public safety, Transportation, Unions, Worker Rights and Jobs

A lot of eyes will be on the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) this year as it takes part in one of the most significant labor negotiations of recent times. Boeing is one of just two major commercial aircraft makers in the world. It’s an export powerhouse and a standard-bearer for American industrial and technological achievement. It’s also a company that’s overdue for a course correction. A terrifying Jan. 5 incident in which a door plug fell out of a two-month-old Boeing 737 over Portland isn’t even the latest.

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