Boeing Machinists rejected offer with no end in sight for strike.
The new contract rejection means a continuation of the month-long strike by union members of IAM Districts 751 and W24 located respectively in Seattle, Washington and Gladstone, Oregon. 64% of members voted against the contract.
That means 33,000 union members will not go back to work in Boeing’s factories in Everett, Renton and elsewhere. Instead, they’ll remain on the picket line in hopes of securing a deal that meets their demands as Boeing’s massive plants sit idle.
“Today’s vote is a culmination filled with many emotions. We have made tremendous gains in this agreement in many of the areas our members said were important to them,” Machinists District 751 President Jon Holden said immediately after the vote.
Resolving the strikes has been a focus for Boeing as the company reported $6,2 billion in losses for the third quarter, layoffs for 10% of its workforce and the cancellation of several key programs.
Both strikes have dealt a crippling blow to Boeing’s operating costs and have effectively halted 737 jet production at the company since Sept. 25.