Boeing Factory Workers Vote to End Strike as Workers Accept Contract

After seven weeks of striking, Boeing factory workers have voted to accept a contract, returning to work.

New Contract for Boeing Workers

Fifty-nine percent of striking Boeing machinists who cast ballots regarding Boeing’s fourth contract offer agreed to the company’s proposed changes. Although the demand for a pension plan was not restored, the company agreed to a 38% wage increase, including productivity bonuses and ratification, over the next four years. The average annual pay for a Boeing machinist will grow from around $75,000 to $120,000 under the new contract.

The union of 33,000 workers on strike can return to work as soon as November 6 or as late as November 12. Boeing expects a slow couple of weeks to pick production back up with workers returning at various times with chances of retraining requirements.

Compromise Minimized Strike Repercussions

The 53-day strike idled assembly lines primarily across the Pacific Northwest as Boeing lost about $50 million a day. A decline of the newly proposed contract would have potentially forced Boeing into layoffs of around 17,000 employees, as well as a stock sale.

After a reported third quarter loss of more than $6 billion, the company made a greater compromise to finally get workers back in. Although both parties agree that not all problems were resolved, the contract is overall considered to be very positive.

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