SEATTLE — Boeing is expected to resume contract negotiations Monday with the union for machinists, who have been on strike for three weeks.
The aerospace giant confirmed the planned negotiations Friday.
This will be the third time Boeing and IAM District 751 have met to negotiate since 33,000 workers went on strike Sept. 13. The machinists have demanded a 40% pay increase and to have their pensions reinstated. Pensions were removed as part of contract negotiations in 2014.
Earlier negotiations on Sept. 18 and Sept. 27 didn’t result in an agreement between the two groups.
Boeing previously presented its “best and final offer” Sept. 23, which the union said was not negotiated. The deal included a 30% pay raise and increased contributions to 401k plans but no pension. The union rejected the offer.
Healthcare benefits for union members ran out earlier this week, and Thursday marked the first day machinists missed paychecks.
On Friday, SPEEA, the union for aerospace professionals at Boeing, approved sending $16,500 to IAM District 751’s hardship fund every two weeks to support workers who are going without a paycheck. The funds will be sent for the next three months if the strike lasts that long, up to $99,000 total.
The strike prompted the company to institute furloughs on thousands of nonunion employees, implement a hiring freeze and has had ripple effects on suppliers who provide aerospace parts to Boeing. Boeing declined to tell KING 5 how much the strike is costing the company per day. However, the National Association of Manufacturers estimates a regional economic loss of more than $1.65 billion after just 20 days.
