EVERETT, Wash. — It's been more than 50 days since Boeing machinists went on strike.
On Monday, they will again vote on a new contract offer from the company that provides slightly bigger wage increases than a previous offer.
Though picket lines were mostly empty on Sunday, Andre Johnstone was outside the Renton factory.
"Our union motto is, we cower to no one, and I'm living by that," Johnstone said.
Machinists KING 5 spoke with said they were anxious for the vote on Monday.
Boeing's latest offer would raise wages 38% over four years, or a compounded increase of about 43%, the union said last week.
Boeing in a statement last week said the company was also offering a $12,000 contract ratification bonus, up from $7,000 offered previously. Additionally, the company said it would increase its contribution to employee 401(k) plans.
The deal does fall short of the 40% wage increase the union originally asked for and it doesn't include restoring pensions.
"We've been asking for the pension for months and years," Johnstone said.
About 33,000 IAM members have been on strike, shutting down production of most Boeing airline jets including the company's best-seller, the 737 Max.
The strike began Sept. 13 when more than 94% of workers voting rejected an offer of 25% over four years. Last week, 64% shot down a proposal that would have raised general wages 35% over four years.
The union originally demanded 40% in raises over three years and restoration of traditional pensions, which were frozen for then-current workers and not extended to those hired after January 2014. Workers on picket lines in the Seattle area have stressed pensions, but the company based in Arlington, Virginia, is unwilling to bend on the issue.
Boeing has said that average annual pay for machinists is currently $75,608.
The last Boeing strike, in 2008, lasted eight weeks and cost the company about $100 million daily in deferred revenue. A 1995 strike lasted 10 weeks.