Boeing Factory Workers Poised To Approve Strike

Boeing's Washington state factory workers will vote on Wednesday on whether to give their union a strike mandate as they seek a 40% raise in their first full negotiation with the planemaker in 16 years, Allison Lampert reported for Reuters.

Many of the estimated 30,000 workers who build Boeing's 737 MAX and other jets will rally in support of a mandate. I Photo: Jetstar Airways Wikimedia Commons

Many of the estimated 30,000 workers who build Boeing's 737 MAX and other jets will rally in support of a mandate at Seattle's T-Mobile Park, although they cannot strike before their contract expires on Sept. 12.

While the vote is considered procedural, the union is kicking off the 12 p.m. PDT event with fanfare, including an earlier convoy of workers on 800 motorcycles.

“It does empower the negotiating committee, it does send a strong message," union local president Jon Holden said about the vote during a June interview. For example, the vote would free up funds in case members choose to strike later, he added.

North American unions have capitalized on tight labor markets to win hefty contracts at the bargaining table, with airline pilots, autoworkers, and others scoring big raises. But Boeing has lost ground to rival Airbus as it navigates a crisis that erupted after a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX jet in mid-air on Jan. 5.