RENTON, Wash. — Leadership for Boeing’s largest labor union are calling for a raise as they head to the bargaining table.
Friday marks the start of the first full negotiations between Boeing and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) in 16 years and this time, workers said they have the upper hand. The union represents approximately 32,000 workers.
IMA District 751 President Jon Holden said workers are calling for a 40% pay increase over the next three-to-four years.
“I think we believe in ourselves and there is no Boeing company without us and we have what it takes to build this company to the level it was and that’s what our focus will be going forward,” Holden said.
The labor contract renegotiation comes at a tough time for the company as Boeing is under increased scrutiny after the door plug of a Boeing aircraft blew off an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
“I think people are angry and I think that we’re going to have that be part of the leverage that we have in negotiations,” Holden said.
“We’ll be proposing articles around safety and quality of the airplane. Any provisions or policy that go into the safety and quality of the airplane that we have a right to negotiate those. It’s very important to us that we build a safe quality airplane and probably the first time ever that we’ll be proposing some of these articles based on everything that’s going on,” Holden said.
While there were no injuries the company is undergoing a complete safety overhaul – and reputational damage. IAM is a named party in the ongoing NTSB Investigation.
“As we sit down at the bargaining table we believe there is a path for a new deal a deal that addresses your needs while allowing our company to remain competitive so that we can bring home new business for all of us,” said Stan Deal, the executive vice president of Boeing and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
With talks expected to stretch into summer the union plans a strike authorization vote in July – something they were not afraid to do in 2008. That strike spanned eight weeks – and according to an Associated Press report from the time, cost Boeing an estimated $100 million a day in lost revenue.