33,000 Oregon, Washington Boeing machinists begin strike

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Thousands of Boeing workers across the Pacific Northwest are on strike Friday after they rejected a tentative contract with the aircraft company.

The strike involves 33,000 Boeing machinists, and it is expected to shut down production of the company's best-selling airplanes.

People gathered outside Boeing's Gresham factory early Friday morning, holding signs calling for a fair contract.

In a joint statement from Oregon and Washington labor federations, officials said that 96% of the workers voted to strike demanding "dignity, respect and fair compensation."

“At 12:01am this morning, 33,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers began a strike to demand the dignity, respect, and fair compensation they deserve. Workers voted to strike by 96%, with more than 94% of votes rejecting Boeing’s offer," the statement said.

The statement went on to claim Boeing's "pursuit of ever higher profits" was to blame for the strike and for the recent safety issues on their planes.

"Boeing’s disregard for working people in the pursuit of ever higher profits has directly led us to this strike, and caused the safety issues that have damaged public trust in Boeing," the statement continued. "Striking workers are fighting not only for a fair contract, but for the safety of the flying public as well. That’s why we encourage all workers, union and non-union alike, to join the picket line and show your solidarity with our Machinist siblings."

KOIN 6 News spoke with workers on the picket line on Friday. Some of them said they were prepared to continue going on strike for months, if necessary, to get their demands.

"Last time we got a raise was two years ago at 1%," said Jeff Seifert, a gear cutter at Boeing's Gresham facility. "Have worked every other weekend for the last year in order to make my bills and have anything extra at all to spend, to do anything with my family. "

According to Boeing, the new contract offered a raise in pay from around $75,000 to $106,000 per year, but that number fell short of the union's initial demand for 43% pay raise over the course of three years.

"We have gotten negligible wage increases over the last 16 years. That's a long time to wait to be able to do this negotiation," Seifert said.

In terms of why workers rejected Boeing's proposed tentative agreement, IAM President of Directing Business Brandon Bryant told KOIN 6 News it fell short of expectations.

"When our members got to take a look at it, they felt that it did not hit the mark, it was not enough," Bryant said.

Union leaders said their top five priorities include better wages, a stronger retirement plan, better healthcare at a reduced cost, more time off/better work-life balance and job security.

Bryant said these demands come after workers lost their pension plan.

"Their pension was ripped away from them about ten years ago," he said. "That was a big hole in their retirement that we tried to fill."

Workers said the strike is also an effort to ramp up safety measures after several headline-grabbing manufacturing failures happened at the company, including an Alaska Airlines flight having its door plug blow out shortly after takeoff from Portland International Airport in January.

"Things that we're fighting for is, being a bigger part of quality and safety," said IAM Local Lodge 63 President Eric Bitney.

Workers said the company puts pressure on productivity to the point that safety standards fall behind.

"Well, making Boeing follow their own safety rules and initiatives and procedures. It seems to be like, production is more important than safety and quality," Bitney said.

In a statement from Boeing, the company said it was clear that the deal wasn't acceptable for union members and that the company is committed to fixing its relationship with its employees.

"The message was clear that the tentative agreement reached with IAM leadership was not acceptable to the members," the statement said. "We remain committed to resetting our relationship with our employees and the union and we are ready to get back to the table to reach a new agreement."

Union leaders told KOIN 6 they hope to get back to the negotiation table next week.