Striking Boeing workers have turned down a new proposal from the aviation giant that included a significant 35% pay increase over the next four years. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union announced that 64% of its striking members voted against the deal.
The walkout, which began on September 13, has seen more than 30,000 Boeing employees participate, following the rejection of the initial offer. This strike comes after Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg warned that the company is at a “crossroads,” facing losses estimated at around $6 billion.
In a statement, union representatives expressed, “After 10 years of sacrifices, we still have ground to make up, and we’re hopeful to do so by resuming negotiations promptly. This is workplace democracy – and also clear evidence that there are consequences when a company mistreats its workers year after year.”
As of now, Boeing has not issued a public comment regarding the rejection of its latest offer. Notably, this is the second time striking workers have formally voted down a proposed deal; the previous offer was rejected by an overwhelming 95% of workers last month.
Earlier in the week, Ortberg, who took on the CEO role in August, shared that he has been working “feverishly” to stabilize the company, amid efforts to restore its reputation, which has been marred by manufacturing and safety issues. “This is a big ship that will take some time to turn, but when it does, it has the capacity to be great again,” he added.
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