To avoid a large-scale strike, the American aircraft manufacturer Boeing reached an agreement in principle with the company’s union representatives on Sunday, September 8. The key was the promise of a significant wage increase. A victory for the employees as the company has been going through a crisis for several months.
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The deal was welcomed by union representatives. After a month of negotiations between Boeing and has committed to increasing wages for workers at its Seattle and Portland plants in the northwest United States by 25% over the next four years. The company is also promising 12 weeks of paid parental leave, better job security, improved retirement benefits and the construction of the group’s next commercial aircraft in the region, our correspondent in New York reports. Loubna Anaki.
The agreement still needs to be validated by employees this week. If it is adopted, it will be a first victory for Boeing’s new president, Kelly Ortberg who took office just a month ago. All this while the aircraft manufacturer has been going through a serious crisis for several months after a series of in-flight incidents, not to mention the misadventures of its space subsidiary StarlinerKelly Ortberg is tasked with turning around and restoring Boeing’s image.
In a message to his members, the president of the Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 751, which represents more than 30,000 employees of the American aircraft manufacturer in this region, Jon Holden, declared that ” strength, solidarity and unity ” of the union had made it possible to obtain ” the best contract we ever had “Mr Holden urged his members to consider the proposal carefully. We are prepared to fight if necessary, but we believe this proposal will benefit all our members and our future. ” he said in a message. This vote is now in your hands, as it should be. ” he added.
Repeated crises
A labor deal is important for the planemaker as its cash flow dwindles and it tries to ramp up production of its best-selling 737 MAX to 38 planes a month by the end of the year. It also helps avoid a strike that could draw attention to Boeing ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
Boeing faces quality crisis, subject to scrutiny by regulatory authorities and its customers since an in-flight incident in January on an Alaska Air plane.
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