iMail, November 4, 2008 - After 57 days on the picket line, Machinists at the Boeing Company voted by 74 percent to ratify a new contract that far exceeded the company’s “last and final” offer and assured all 27,000 members at Boeing a place of honor in the history of hard won union victories.
“This contract gives the workers at Boeing an opportunity to share in the extraordinary success this Company has achieved over the past several years,” said Aerospace Coordinator Mark Blondin, who served as lead negotiator. “It also recognizes the need to act with foresight to protect the next generation of aerospace jobs.”
Among the issues that led to the strike was Boeing’s attempt to eliminate thousands of IAM-represented positions by securing contract terms that would expand the use of outside vendors in the workplace. In its initial proposal, Boeing also proposed to close the traditional pension plan to new hires and sharply cut health care benefits for retirees.
In addition to a 15 percent increase in wages, pension improvements and significant lump sum payments, IAM members' share of medical costs will remain unchanged. Among the many job security gains in the new accord, the IAM won scope of work jurisdiction over previously unprotected bargaining unit work. More than 5,000 jobs at risk under the company’s initial proposal are protected under the current accord.
“This Union has delivered what few Americans have - economic certainty and quality benefits for the next four years,” said District 751 President Tom Wroblewski. "After 57 days of striking, we gained important and substantial improvements over the Company's offer that was rejected on September 3.”
The new four-year agreement covers IAM members at Boeing facilities in Washington, Oregon, Kansas and California, and ends a strike that began on September 6, 2008.
