In the United States, Boeing employees vote overwhelmingly to strike

Boeing workers in the Seattle area voted overwhelmingly Thursday night to go on strike starting Friday, September 13, rejecting a new contract proposed by the struggling American planemaker. “Our members have spoken loud and clear”said Jon Holden, President of the IAM-District 751 machinists’ union, who represents approximately 33,000 workers.

The strike will shut down two major aircraft assembly plants in the Puget Sound region. It will paralyze production of the 737, 777 and 767 freighter, whose deliveries are already running behind schedule. This situation is all the more problematic since the aircraft manufacturer collects the largest portion of the payment (around 60%) when the planes are handed over.

The vote marked a decisive rejection of a deal that workers said was far less generous than Boeing executives had claimed. The new contract, which covers members ofIAM-District 751included a 25 percent wage increase over four years and a commitment to invest in the Seattle area.

The Boeing group said it was “engaged” in negotiations despite this strike. “We remain committed to repairing our relationships with our employees and the union, and we are prepared to return to the negotiating table to reach a new agreement.”Boeing said in a statement Thursday evening.