Roughly 33,000 Machinists union members began their sixth week of a strike at Boeing Oct. 18.
The two sides met with a mediator Oct. 7 and 8 but without coming to agreement. Then Boeing told the Machinists union that it’s withdrawing its offer of a 30% pay increase over four years. That offer was above the 25% offer that workers voted to reject Sept. 12. But it’s still far below the 40% over three years that the union says is needed to catch workers up for wages that rose only 4% in the last eight years, during which inflation increased prices almost 31%.
“Bargaining is hard work, and Boeing keeps walking away from the table. During our three mediated talks, the company has walked away all three times,” said Machinists District 751 president Jon Holden in an Oct. 11 press statement. “They gave up and left the mediators to let us know they had walked away. At the latest talks, they withdrew their offer and then wanted to tell everyone all about it. This weak attempt of a power move will only make it harder to reach an agreement.”
The Machinists union is paying $250 a week to strikers who sign in to their picket duty. Picketing goes on 24-7 at all locations. Several other unions have stepped forward to help strikers. Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) contributed $20,000 to the Machinists strike fund. and SPEEA (Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace) is donating $16,500 every two weeks to the IAM Hardship Fund for the next three months, up to $99,000.
Boeing cut off strikers’ access to health benefits on Oct. 1. Many strikers have taken temporary jobs to make ends meet.But if anything, Boeing seems to be hurting even more.
S&P Global Ratings put Boeing Co. on its “CreditWatch Negative” list, meaning an increased likelihood of a credit downgrade, which could make it more expensive for the company to borrow money. Boeing stock is down 41% this year. Up to now, the planemaker has never fallen below investment grade. But the company has about $60 billion in debt and posted operating cash flow losses of more than $7 billion for the first half of 2024. This week, the company said it may lay off 17,000 workers to conserve cash.
“An unwillingness to stay at the table only prolongs the strike,” Holden said. “CEO Ortberg has an opportunity to do things differently instead of the same old tired labor relations threats used to intimidate and crush anyone that stands up to them. Our membership is too powerful for that and is standing on principles. Ultimately, it will be our membership that determines whether any negotiated contract offer is accepted.They want a resolution that is negotiated and addresses their needs. Get back to the bargaining table.”
How to help
The best way to show support is to walk the picket line with strikers. In the Portland area, you can visit the picket line at the Airport Paint Hanger at 4635 NE Cornfoot Road, or the main picket at 19000 NE Sandy Bouleveard. (Because that’s an industrial area with no nearby parking, IBEW Local 125 has offered its nearby parking lot at 17200 NE Sacramento St. for strikers and supporters to use; the union is shuttling people from there to the picket line and back at least every half hour.) The Oregon AFL-CIO has created an online picket line support signup.
Donations of food are also welcome. So are online donations to the strike fund.
