“The union is ready for this opportunity to present the issues that members have identified as critical to reaching an agreement,” said District 751 of the machinists union. “We know that the only way to resolve this strike is through negotiations.”
The latest round of talks between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will come after the two sides last held formal negotiations more than a week ago, when two days of mediation sessions broke down.
Boeing also confirmed Friday’s talks.
So far since the strike began on September 13, the aircraft manufacturer has offered two proposals that have been rejected by the striking workers.
On Monday, September 23, the aerospace giant made an offer to workers of a 30% salary increase over four years. Instead of direct talks, communication came through the media, with Boeing calling it its “last and best” offer and setting a Friday night deadline for ratification, angering union leaders.
Before that, workers had rejected Boeing’s initial offer of a 25% pay rise, and the first round of mediation talks collapsed last week without an agreement being reached.
The union originally demanded a 40% pay increase over three years.
Boeing, however, said its latest offer would raise the average annual salary for machinists from $75,608 today to $111,155 at the end of the four-year contract. He would also maintain annual bonuses based on productivity. In the rejected contract, Boeing sought to replace those payments with new contributions to retirement accounts.
Following union opposition to the offer, Boeing backed down on Tuesday and gave the union more time to consider the new proposal. However, many workers said the company’s latest offer was not good enough given the rising cost of living since the last negotiations 16 years ago.
The strike has shut down production of the Boeing 737, 767 and 777 and is prompting the company to take cost-cutting measures, including temporary furloughs for thousands of managers and non-union employees.
Later today, a regional district of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said the two sides would meet again to discuss the matter along with federal mediators.
(With contributions from Bloomberg and AP)
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