RENTON, Wash. — Boeing has reached an agreement with the union that represents firefighters after months of negotiations.
International Association of Firefighters Local I-66 members are expected to vote on the tentative agreement Thursday. The union members are part of Boeing's private force of firefighters who protect its aircraft-manufacturing plants in the Seattle area.
The union and Boeing said Tuesday that the agreement meets the needs of its firefighters and the company.
The union's contract expired at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, and firefighters began picketing. The picket made headlines when Boeing locked out about 125 firefighters from facilities in the Seattle area and brought in replacements.
The firefighters serve as first responders to fires and medical emergencies and can call in help from local fire departments.
The details of the tentative agreement were not made available. The union, which argues Boeing has saved billions in insurance costs by employing its own on-site firefighters, has said it was seeking raises of 40% to 50%. Union members hoped the increased pay would aid retention.
Boeing says firefighters were paid $91,000 on average last year.
The labor dispute comes as Boeing navigates mounting losses — more than $24 billion since the start of 2019 — and renewed scrutiny over quality and safety in its manufacturing since a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max flying over Oregon in January.
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