Today begins week two of machinists on strike at Boeing plants in Seattle and Portland after workers rejected a deal which included a 25 percent raise.
With negotiations still unattainable and no end in sight, workers are on strike for the long haul.
Last week, as reported by CNN, Anderson Economic Group estimated that the strike had already cost the company and the 33,000 employees, who are members of the International Association of Machinists, $572 million.
Workers walked out on September 13 after union members voted 96 percent in favor of striking over a contract proposed with a 25 percent raise over four years. Workers want a 40 percent raise and to have traditional pension benefits restored that they lost 10 years ago.
However, Boeing has struggled in 2024 with mid-air mishaps which began with a door plug blowing out of a Boeing 737 Max in January. The cash strapped company began rolling furloughs for nonunion workers, who will take one week of unpaid leave for every four weeks.
With rival Airbus sales surpassing Boeing, the company experienced trouble with test flights on its new jet the 777x. Boeing does not have the cash necessary to develop a new model jet for the airline market.
In South Carolina, workers at a nonunion factory are building the 787 Dreamliner. Only 32 Dreamliners have been made in 2024. The 777F and 767F Freighter models and the Max are built in plants currently shut down by the strike.
Of concern is not only the employees on strike, but the possible effects eventually on America’s airline industry and the economic effects across the country.
According to a regulatory filing on June 30, 2024, Boeing had $58 billion in debt and $11 billion in cash.
ABC News spoke to 39-year Boeing veteran Bill Studerus, who carried a “Strike” sign and an American flag.
“When you’re on strike, you have no income, so that is what is challenging for all of us, no matter what age you are. My heart tells me that hopefully this this will end soon. I mean, we all want to get back to work and we all want to be the Boeing family that we always have been,” he said.
Cost-saving measures at Boeing have included travel restrictions, a hiring freeze and a 25 percent salary cut for top executives. The measures are expected to cut across the company’s airplane, defense and space and global-services businesses.
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Rebecca Barnabi
