Boeing Machinists Go on Strike After Rejecting Contract

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union Members Walk Out

Nearly 2,500 Boeing machinists in Washington state have gone on strike after rejecting the company's latest contract offer.

The strike began on Monday, August 1, and is the first major labor action at Boeing in more than two decades.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) union represents the striking workers, who are employed at Boeing's Puget Sound facilities in Everett, Renton, and Auburn.

The union said in a statement that the strike was "a last resort" after Boeing failed to address its concerns about wages, benefits, and working conditions.

"We have been negotiating with Boeing for months, and the company has refused to make a fair offer that meets the needs of our members," IAM District 751 President Tom Wroblewski said.

Boeing said in a statement that it was "disappointed" by the strike and that it was "committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement with the IAM."

The company said it had made "competitive offers" to the union and that it was "confident" that the strike would end soon.

The strike is likely to cause production delays at Boeing, which is the world's largest aerospace company.

The company said it would continue to build planes during the strike, but it was unclear how long it would be able to do so without the striking workers.

The strike is the latest in a series of labor disputes between Boeing and its workers.

In 2019, Boeing engineers went on strike for two weeks over wages and benefits.

The strike ended after Boeing agreed to a new contract that included a 12% pay increase.