Boeing Union Members Ratify New Contract, Ending Significant Strike

Members of Boeing’s largest union have officially approved a new contract on Monday, bringing to a close a prolonged strike that has been recognized as one of the most financially impactful work stoppages in recent history. The contract received support from 59 percent of the voting members, as reported by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents approximately 33,000 workers predominantly engaged in manufacturing commercial airplanes in the Seattle region. Notably, over 75 percent of union members participated in the voting process.

The union announced that its members, who had previously rejected two contract proposals from Boeing, could potentially resume work as early as Wednesday, with a mandatory return date set for November 12. The strike initially commenced on September 13, following the union’s disapproval of Boeing’s first contract offer.

In a statement celebrating the outcome, Jon Holden, the president of District 751 of the machinists union, expressed pride in the members’ collective strength: “You stood strong, you stood tall and you won. This is a victory.”

The newly ratified contract includes a significant wage increase of more than 43 percent cumulatively over the next four years, representing a substantial improvement compared to the two previous offers, which proposed a mere 27 percent wage increase. Union leaders, alongside Boeing officials, had actively encouraged the employees to endorse this latest deal, cautioning that any future proposals from the company might include less favorable terms than those currently presented.