Boeing strike delayed 48 hours

Source: Manufacturing Digital

Date :9/4/2008 6:22:03 AM

Boeing union workers have voted to strike for the second time in three years, but have agreed to postpone the walkout for 48 hours to allow negotiations to continue.

The International Association of Machinists, the airplane manufacturer’s largest union, rejected an offer of an 11 percent raise over three years.

The proposal also included plans for Boeing to limit the use of outside contractors usually undertaken by machinists.

According to the IAM, Boeing employees will continue to work until Friday after saying that 87 percent of its members voted to start a strike at midnight on Wednesday. In the meantime, discussions between the two parties will continue.

"We offered employees the best package of pay and benefits in the aerospace industry," said Doug Kight, Boeing Vice President of Human Resources. "We are disappointed with the vote on the contract offer."

It is estimated that if the strike does go ahead, it will cost Boeing around US$100 million per day in lost revenue.