A month into the IAM 751 union strike, the odds of Boeing securing a deal any time soon look slim despite external pressure for a resolution.
When the union of Boeing machinists went on strike on September 13th this year, many hoped that it would be a quick one. The day before the union members overwhelmingly rejected Boeing’s offer, making the strike inevitable.
It wasn’t a quick one, though. After nearly two weeks with little in the way of news, Boeing went public with what it called its “best and final” offer. The IAM 751 union leadership later stated that they were still examining that offer, when Boeing made it public, without a chance to negotiate it.
Boeing Union Strike Continues
There was no second vote. The union leadership accused Boeing of trying to go around them, so no vote was called and the strike continued. Now, union leaders state that their members are in it for the “long haul” – pun absolutely intended. Boeing has reportedly since improved that “best and final” offer further. But the negotiations broke off again last Tuesday (9th).
Boeing’s strategy to call for a vote on a deal that it didn’t negotiate with the union’s leadership, got a lot of criticism beyond the union itself. This move put direct negotiations between Boeing and the union on hold, the strike continuing as mediators try to bring the two sides together. Little progress was made for another two weeks or so.
So far, Boeing’s new CEO Kelly Ortberg is keeping a relatively low profile in these negotiations. Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope seems to have a more central role. According to The Air Current, Ortberg and IAM 751 union leader Jon Holden last spoke directly on the 12th of September, i.e. the day of the vote.
Another Union To go?
The longest strike of Boeing employees that the IAM 751 union has ever done lasted 58 days, back in 2008. This strike is about half-way there already. But this time, Boeing’s finances are in a much more precarious state. According to S&P, the strike will cost Boeing $1 billion per month. It has halted the assembly lines of all Boeing commercial aircraft except the 787.
Starting almost two years before its negotiations with Boeing began, the union advised its members to begin saving for a strike. Now, IAM 751’s leadership say that their members are well-prepared and there is even a fund to support members who need it.
There were hopes that the relationship between Boeing and its workers would be better today than in 2008. SPEEA union leaders (engineers), whose contract expires next year, have also advised their members to prepare financially for a long strike.
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