Boeing and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) were set to meet Friday to negotiate but remained at odds on key issues including wage increases and pensions, putting additional strain on the company that has weathered intense scrutiny this year.
The strike will have cost the company, employees and suppliers a combined $1.4 billion through Sept. 27, according to an estimate by the consulting firm Anderson Economic Group.
The second week of the strike was more costly than the first, “as is typical for major industrial strikes,” Anderson noted.
After union members overwhelmingly voted to reject an initial contract proposal earlier this month, the IAM refused to vote this week on Boeing’s “best and final offer” that included a 30 percent pay hike and a $6,000 contract ratification bonus, double the initial offer.
The company had initially given the union until midnight on Friday to vote on the proposal, but quickly backed off that timeline after pushback from the union, which said Wednesday that the proposal “didn’t meet the needs of our members.”
The strike has garnered the attention and support of congressional Democrats. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, posted pictures with striking workers on X with the caption, “I stand with Machinists.”
Other lawmakers representing Washington state, which has major Boeing manufacturing facilities, have voiced support for a fair contract, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D), Rick Larsen (D) and Sen. Patty Murray (D).
The Hill’s Taylor Giorno has more here.
