NEW YORK: United States aviation giant Boeing has once again improved the conditions in its contract offer to thousands of striking workers, hoping to put an end to a painful strike that has paralyzed its two main factories for seven weeks.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 751, the union which represents more than 33,000 workers who went on strike on Sep 13 in the Seattle area, on Thursday (Oct 31) endorsed the new offer and set a vote for Monday.
The offer includes a 38 per cent wage increase over the four years of the contract and a US$12,000 ratification bonus, up from US$7,000 in the previous proposal, Boeing said in a separate statement.
“Your union is endorsing and recommending the latest IAM/Boeing contract proposal. It is time for our members to lock in these gains and confidently declare victory,” the IAM chapter said.
This was the fourth offer made by Boeing since early September, but the third on which members have been asked to vote.
Members overwhelmingly rejected an offer of a 25 per cent raise over four years on Sep 12. A second offer, which promised a 35 per cent pay rise, was rejected by nearly two-thirds of members last week.
The union has consistently asked for a 40 per cent salary increase.
“We believe asking members to stay on strike longer wouldn’t be right as we have achieved so much success,” the union said.
“We encourage all of our employees to learn more about the improved offer and vote on Monday, November 4,” Boeing said, noting that the average machinist will make US$119,309 by the end of the contract if the offer is accepted, up from US$75,608.
The other conditions in the contract remain unchanged, such as an annual bonus, and the company’s commitment to build its next plane – expected in 2025 – in the Seattle area, where Boeing was founded in July 1916.
Union requests to restore a pension plan discarded in 2014 were not honoured.
