Boeing mechanical engineers voted Monday to end a strike that has hobbled the company for the past 53 days.
The new contract includes a 38% pay increase over the next four years and a recognition bonus of $12,000. Boeing says the average machinist will earn $119,309 a year at the end of four years, an increase of about $43,700 from the average $75,608 in the previous contract.
The vote gives Boeing the runway to restart production at facilities around Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at a critical time for the aircraft maker.
The strike placed a significant financial strain on the company, which has been under intense regulatory scrutiny since the doors of its Boeing 737 Max 9 were blown off shortly after an Alaska Airlines flight in January, and safety and safety issues have been under intense scrutiny. Supervisory reforms were urged, and production had been stagnant even before the strike.
Kelly Ortberg, Boeing President and CEO, said: by message On Friday, he said the strike was “difficult” for everyone and urged union members to approve a new proposal.
“Now is the time for all of us to come together to rebuild our business and focus on delivering the best airplanes in the world. There are many people counting on us,” Ortberg wrote.
This was the third proposal the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers submitted to its members for a vote.
Boeing's offers have jumped significantly since Sept. 13, when 33,000 machinists quit after overwhelmingly rejecting an initial proposal that included 25% wage increases over the next four years.
In late October, member states rejected a second proposal that included a 35% wage increase over the next four years and a ratification bonus of $7,000.
The agreement falls short of restoring defined benefit pension plans, which workers have sought. But the union said it “believes it is time for the entire bargaining committee to resolve this strike and move forward,” urging them to vote “yes” on the contract and preserve their influence in future negotiations. urged union members.
