On September 13, around 32,000 Boeing workers walked out on strike in the Seattle area after 95% voted to reject the contract deal with the company and 96% voted to strike. This is the first strike at Boeing in 16 years, since 2008.
✊We’re fighting for every family.
✊We’re fighting for every community.
✊We’re fighting for the future of Boeing. pic.twitter.com/oGsa221TF4
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) September 13, 2024
Aerospace giant Boeing has received heavy public criticism due to rampant quality control issues that have resulted in continued investigations and legal action, not to mention two crashes of 737 Max jets in 2018 and 2019 that left 346 people dead. Even more public suspicion has been raised following the deaths of two whistleblowers who raised concerns about safety, which led to speculation of foul play.
Boeing plays a major role in the US economy, employing almost 150,00 people and manufacturing US military jets as well as Air Force One, the official air traffic control call sign for aircraft designated to carry the President of the United States.
Workers claim that many of the safety issues result from Boeing caring more about fast production and stock prices than quality, as highlighted by a set of interviews conducted by More Perfect Union with workers and leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
“The wages that they pay are comparable with McDonald’s,” said Kristi Kidrick, a Boeing assembly installer. “There is a big turnover rate. And so a lot of people won’t stay there very long to gain the knowledge and the skillset,” both of which are requirements for building safe, quality airplanes.
Workers rejected the contract deal, which was negotiated between Boeing and IAM. The proposed deal contained wage increases of 25%, far lower than what workers had demanded, which was a 40% wage increase.
The United Auto Workers has expressed solidarity with striking Boeing workers.
