Machinists Vote to Reject Boeing Proposal

In Seattle, Wash., Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, 67% of members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) District 751, District W-24, voted to reject the Boeing Company’s offer of an 8-year contract extension that would have expired in 2024.

 

IAM District 751 Directing Business Representative Tom Wroblewski issued the following statement:

 

"Today, the democratic process worked and our members made the decision to not accept the company’s proposal. It is my belief that we represent the best aerospace workforce in the world and hope that as a result of this vote Boeing will not discard our skills when looking to place the 777X.

 

"We preserved something sacred by rejecting the Boeing proposal. We’ve held on to our pensions and that’s big. At a time when financial planners are talking about a ‘retirement crisis’ in America, we have preserved a tool that will help our members retire with more comfort and dignity."

 

The IAM represents more than 31,000 Boeing workers who are affected by this vote and is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America. 

 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes issued a statement from President and CEO Ray Conner shortly after the long-term contract extension was voted down.

 

"We are very disappointed in the outcome of the union vote. Our goal was two-fold: to enable the 777X and its new composite wing to be produced in Puget Sound and to create a competitive structure to ensure that we continue market-leading pay, health care and retirement benefits while preserving jobs and our industrial base here in the region. But without the terms of this contract extension, we're left with no choice but to open the process competitively and pursue all options for the 777X.

 

"I'd like to thank Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington state legislature for all their efforts in this process. We had hoped for a different outcome."