The Boeing Company’s 27,000-member machinists’ union went on strike on Sept. 6 when contract talks arbitrated by a federal mediator fell apart. Workers, who struck for 24 days in 2005 during their last contract negotiations, took to the picket line at the Boeing manufacturing plant in Everett, Wash.
Tom Wroblewski, president of Machinists District Lodge 751, charged that Boeing had “disrespected the process, bargained illegally, and most of all, disrespected the finest aerospace workers on the planet by refusing to meet your expectations.” Workers are demanding improvements in the 401(k) retirement plan and vacation policies.
Boeing made a $4.1 billion in profits last year, and in July the company reported that it had backlogged orders worth $346 billion for additional airplanes.
