Boeing's 33,000 Seattle Workers Vote 96% to Strike After Rejecting Contract

Sep 13, 2024, 07:03 AM

Boeing's U.S. West Coast factory workers have voted overwhelmingly to reject a proposed contract, with 96% voting in favor of a strike. The strike, set to begin at midnight on Friday, will involve more than 33,000 union members, primarily from the Seattle area, and is the first at Boeing in 16 years. The rejected contract included a 25% pay increase over four years. The work stoppage will halt production of Boeing's strongest-selling jets, including the 737 MAX, as the embattled company grapples with chronic output delays and mounting debt. Boeing has expressed readiness to return to negotiations to reach a new agreement. The workers are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).