Boeing workers reject raise; strike continues amid losses
Boeing employees rejected a proposed 35% wage increase from the company's management, according to the AFP agency on Thursday, citing the union's website. This means their strike, which has been ongoing for a month and a half, will continue.
Approximately 33,000 employees at two critical factories in Washington state are participating in the strike. These factories produce some of the world's best-selling aeroplanes, including the Boeing 737, models like the 777 and 767, and several military programs.
In its latest offer, Boeing's management proposed a 35% wage increase over four years but did not reinstate the pension plan that was abolished in 2008. On Wednesday, 64% of union members voted against this proposal.
Protesters want more
The protesters demand a 40% wage increase to offset the losses caused by years of ongoing inflation. They highlight that living costs in Washington state are among the highest in the USA. The company is headquartered in Seattle.
On Wednesday, Boeing released its financial results for the third quarter of this year. It reported its largest loss in nearly four years, totaling $6.17 billion.
The company attributes this loss to recurring aviation incidents involving its aircraft. The previous largest quarterly loss, amounting to $8.42 billion, occurred in the fourth quarter of 2020.
According to AFP's calculations, Boeing's net losses have exceeded $31 billion since the beginning of 2020.
