STORY: :: Boeing workers in Washington state
join strike to demand higher pay
:: Renton, Washington
:: September 13, 2024
:: Kushal Varma, Boeing maintenance mechanic
“…this is a movement. You know, this is a movement of people who are willing to go on strike, put their livelihoods on the line, and to get what’s fair. That’s all we want is a fair deal, a fair shake compared to what other people are getting in the company. That’s what the fight is.”
:: Brian Hatcher, Boeing Kaizen technician
“We build a product here that the entire planet flies on. When we finish a job, our signature is legally binding for that job. There is no other union that builds or does what we do. We should be compensated fairly for that.”
More than 30,000 of Boeing’s West Coast factory workers who produce the MAX and other jets began the strike on Friday after overwhelmingly rejecting a contract deal due to demands for higher pay.
The workers’ first strike since 2008 comes as Boeing is under heavy scrutiny from U.S. regulators and customers after a door panel blew off a 737 MAX jet mid-air in January.
The strike is creating more uncertainty and concern for suppliers of parts and components for programs like the 737 MAX. Many were already having difficulty planning production due to Boeing’s repeated changes to internal forecasts for suppliers.
Brian West, Boeing’s chief financial officer, said on Friday that the company wants to get back to the table, acknowledging that a strike is concerning for production, delivery and finances. He said the walkout will make it harder for Boeing to meet the production of its best-selling 737 MAX jet target and stabilize its supply chain.