Following a lengthy strike authorization meeting, Machinists union members of District 837 who are employed at the Boeing-St. Louis, MO, Defense Systems plant voted by a margin of 99 percent to authorize a strike if the final contract offer from the company is not accepted on June 13, 2010.
IAM members at the meeting rose repeatedly to express their outrage against several proposals currently on the table as the crowd applauded each time a call to authorize a strike was made.
“Seniority, Pension, Healthcare and Job Protection seemed to be on everyone’s mind today,” declared Gordon King, District 837 President and Directing Business Representative for approximately 2,600 Boeing employees. “The overwhelming sentiment ran in favor of a work stoppage if the current company proposals are not withdrawn before the final offer is extended. It is now the job of the Bargaining Committee to pass their concerns onto the company.”
The strike authorization vote sends a strong message to the Boeing Company that the membership is united behind their negotiating team. Led by District 837 President Gordon King, the team will begin main table meetings later this month, focusing on unresolved issues from the sub-committees as well as main economic issues.
The members of District 837 last struck the plant in 1996 when McDonnell Douglas still owned the facilities. The current contract is set to expire on June13, 2010.
