After almost four weeks, there is no sign of an end to the strike at Boeing. A round of discussions went so badly that there is now radio silence.
Boeing has withdrawn its offer to its striking workers after an inconclusive round of negotiations. The IAM union made demands that Boeing could not accept without losing competitiveness, criticized the head of the airliner business, Stephanie Pope. Therefore, from the group’s point of view, further discussions are pointless at the moment.
The union, for its part, pointed out that the aircraft manufacturer was not prepared to make improvements to the two-week-old offer. Among other things, Boeing had proposed an income increase of 30 percent over four years. Previously, workers had overwhelmingly rejected the previous proposal of 25 percent. From the perspective of the union leadership, the concession that followed did not go far enough.
The union entered the negotiations demanding a 40 percent increase in income over the four-year term of the contract. Boeing workers had accepted several zero rounds over the past decade. Some complained in the US media that being an aircraft fitter sometimes earns less than working in the kitchen of a burger restaurant.
The largest Boeing union, IAM, with around 33,000 employees, went on strike in mid-September. The work stoppage affects Boeing production around Seattle in the northwest of the USA, where, among other things, the best-selling 737 model and the long-haul 777 jet are built. Boeing is already behind schedule with deliveries to many airlines, especially with the 737.
Boeing responded to the strike by, among other things, stopping hiring. In addition, employees were furloughed and business trips were reduced to the bare minimum.
The union last went on strike in 2008. The strike lasted 57 days and cost the company around $2 billion, according to analyst estimates.
Source: Stern
