33,000 Boeing union members set to strike early Friday

Union members at Boeing overwhelmingly rejected a proposed a four-year contract with the troubled aircraft manufacturer, authorizing the first strike at the company in 16 years, said the International Association of Machinist (IAM) union. About 33,000 workers are prepared to walk off the job, and the strike is set to begin early Friday morning.

Union members at Boeing overwhelmingly rejected a proposed a four-year contract with the troubled aircraft manufacturer, authorizing the first strike at the company in 16 years, said the International Association of Machinist (IAM) union. About 33,000 workers are prepared to walk off the job, and the strike is set to begin early Friday morning. The rejected deal, which union leadership had described as the best it had ever negotiated with Boeing (BA), would have given raises of at least 25% over the life of the deal. It also increased job security for union members, because Boeing promised to build its next commercial jet, which has yet to be announced, at a unionized plant. Without a contract that includes that provision, Boeing might decide to build the jet at a nonunion factory. But 95% of members of the IAM union voted against the deal. In a separate vote 96% voted to authorize a strike, easily clearing the two-thirds threshold needed to approve a walkout. The strike is scheduled to start at 11:59 pm PT Thursday, or 2:59 am ET Friday. While it is possible a new deal could be reached in the remaining hours, it appears unlikely that the strike can be avoided, given the anger by rank-and-file union members at the company. “This is about fighting for our future,” said Jon Holden, president of the largest IAM local at Boeing, in announcing the vote results. “We will be back at the table whenever we can get there to drive forward on the issues our members say are important.” Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the announcement.