IAM District 751 and W24 Machinists voted by 64% to reject the contract and continue to strike. Boeing’s decision to strip workers of their pensions and refusal to return them remains at the heart of this strike for many.
On Sept. 23, Boeing announced a new contract offer, but did so in a press release and directly to members instead of to their union in bargaining. Union members said the proposal was inadequate, and disrespectful in the way it bypassed the union.
The rejected contract covers 32,000 workers in Washington and Oregon, members of Machinists District 751 in Washington and W24 in Oregon. Most work at the two plants near Seattle. It’s the largest strike in the U.S. this year.
It was clear from the beginning national IAM officials were upset with the Nov 13 overwhelming rejection of their deal with Boeing and they seemed to be making the point more emphatically by ordering a new vote. Obviously disappointed with the national leadership, a longtime IAM member told me “this rushed vote is not right,” and pointed out “35% of our members are on vacation during this period,” unable to get the information and participate in a democratic discussion
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