Ritika Janiya
Boeing Workers Could Get a Big Pay Raise!
Boeing – one of the most important airplane manufacturers in the world – is in negotiations over a 4-year deal with a raise in pay of 25% with its workers. This is because the workers were planning to go on strike, meaning they would stop work in order to demand better pay and conditions. The strike could start as early as Friday morning and create some real headaches for Boeing, perhaps even a shutdown. In an attempt to avoid this, Boeing has extended an offer they refer to as “historic.”
Union leaders, representatives of more than 30,000 workers of Boeing, are asking the employees not to miss this golden chance. They need to vote a “yes” to the new deal. They claim it to be the best contract ever booked with the company. This development has its days numbered as it down for Boeing’s new boss, Kelly Ortberg. The recently appointed chief executive is under immense pressure to fix Boeing’s tarnished reputation and ensure that the quality of their planes returns to expected standards after some recent problems.
Vote to Decide on Future
On Thursday, the Boeing workers in Seattle and Portland will vote on the new deal. The workers won’t go on strike if they agree to the offer. But if they don’t like the offer, they will have to vote again. For a strike, two-thirds of members in the union have to vote.
A Special Offer from Boeing
This is a historic offer,” says Stephanie Pope, Boeing’s chief operating officer in a video message released to the workers. It was a special deal, as it could be the first full agreement between Boeing and the unions in 16 years. The previous contract was agreed to in 2008 by the end of an eight-week strike, while in 2014, this same contract was extended-and now it’s about to expire.
The new deal is not ideal according to the union, who had set an initial demand for a 40% pay raise. But even without that, they still felt the present offer was extremely good and urged workers to accept it. “This is the best contract we’ve ever negotiated in our history,” said the union in a statement.
More Than Just a Pay Raise
Good things are not all going with the money in this deal. With the 25% pay hike, Boeing is going to offer improved healthcare benefits and better retirement plans for its workers. They also promised 12 weeks of paid parental leave. This is great news for the workers who were planning to have kids or need to take care of their families.
Moreover, Boeing agreed to build its next commercial aircraft in the Seattle area should the project start during the time of this contract. It’s not entirely clear yet when that might be, but it’s a big win for the local workers.
The deal also gives the union members a greater say on such crucial issues as safety and quality through granting them more conviction that the aircraft they are building are safe and built to the highest standards.
Why is Boeing in this Position?
Boeing has had a rough few years. There have been several issues, most being of their own doing. The union believes that it’s the employees who will put the company on course. “It’s the members of the IAM who will bring this company back to where it needs to be,” said the union negotiators. The union negotiators were referring to the many difficulties the aircraft manufacturer has been going through for some time now, the financial losses, and even repair issues regarding its reputation after some sad happenings.
Kelly Ortberg, an industry veteran, joined Boeing as its new chief executive just last month. At the helm of this company are deeper financial losses and hard struggles to regain the public’s trust after two deadly accidents five years ago and other in-flight issues.
A Decision That Counts
It is not a small decision to either accept or reject the offer presented by Boeing. By accepting the offer, the employees would have a good raise in pay, added benefits, and other perks, along with greater control over work conditions. On the other hand, if they don’t accept it, then a strike is certainly in the offing, which, really might cause more harm than good to Boeing and its employees.
Strikes are risky for both sides. For the workers, it means a couple of weeks with no paychecks. For Boeing, it means great financial losses and delays in making airplanes. It seems both sides would want to avoid that.
What’s Ahead for Boeing and Its Workers?
Now all eyes will move to the vote this Tuesday. Will the workers accept the offer and turn away from the strike? Or will they feel the offer isn’t good enough and strike for more? Whatever happens, it’s a boiling point for Boeing, its workers, and the new CEO, Kelly Ortberg.
If approved, the settlement would mark a major milestone for Boeing and its workers. It could also raise the bar on labor contracts for the industry. If the rank-and-file membership rejects it, Boeing faces hard times.
Only time will tell what the decision of the workers will be, but one thing is for sure: this vote is more than just about a pay raise; it’s about the future of Boeing and its people.
