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More than 3,200 union workers from three factories in the St. Louis region who produce American fighter planes voted “massively” to strike on Sunday after rejoining a proposed contract which included a wages of 20% over four years.
The company said it was preparing a strike which, according to the union, could start on August 4.
Why it matters
The company has encountered serious difficulties in recent years, including several security -related incidents.
In March, transport secretary, Sean Duffy, said that Boeing had lost the confidence of the American people and needed strict surveillance after an outdoor panel eruption on a Max 9 plane from New Alaska Airlines 737, which missed four key bolts and two fatal accidents in 2018 and 2019 who killed 346 people. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into India last month, killing 260 people.
A strike at the end of last year by the memes of the Union of Machinists made a heavy price on the company, aggravating the existing production problems and blocking the manufacture of its key aircraft, including models 737 MAX, 767 and 777.
Images Jason Redmondafp / Getty
What to know
The International Syndicate of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, or IAM, said that the vote of district members 837 was massively against the proposed contract.
The current contract was to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, but the union said that a “cooling” period would prevent a strike from starting a week, until August 4, according to the Associated Press.
Union leaders had recommended the approval of Boeing’s offer sent last week, calling it a “historic” agreement that the offer would improve medical, pension and overtime services in addition to remuneration.
Dan Gillian, Vice-President of the Dominance of Boeing Air, Managing Director and Senior Director of the ST. Louis site, said in a statement sent by email that the company was disappointed that Boeing employees elected “the richest contractual offer that we have ever presented to IAM 837 which addressed all their declared priorities”.
The Boeing Air Dominance division produces several military jets, including the US Navy Super Hornet, as well as the Air Force Red Hawk training aircraft.
The division extends manufacturing facilities in the St. Louis region for the new Air Force fighter, the F-47, after winning the contract earlier this year.
The next generation air dominance hunting program (NGAD), initially designed as a “family of systems” centered on a sixth generation fighter plane, is supposed to replace the Raptor F-22.
What people say
The vice-president of Boeing to the domination of the air, Gillian, said in the press release: “We have activated our emergency plan and focus on preparing a strike. No maintenance is planned with the union.”
IAM said in a press release: “The members of the union have delivered a clear message: Boeing Defense’s proposal did not respond to the priorities and sacrifices of the qualified workforce of IAM. Our members are together to demand a contract that respects their work and ensures a sure future.”
What happens next
The strike should start after a week’s “cooling” period on August 4.
