Flight International online news 09:00GMT: Boeing machinists have voted to approve a new three-year labour contract, ending a four-week long strike which forced the manufacturer to defer aircraft deliveries.
The International Association of Machinists (IAM), which represents about 19,000 Boeing aerospace workers in the USA, says 80% of those employees participating in the 29 September election voted to ratify the tentative pact forged earlier this week.
The workers, spread across factories in the states of Washington, Oregon and Kansas, can return to work as early as their next shift. The employees, however, are free to return to work as late as 12 October.
Boeing says it is now focussing on ensuring a smooth restart of its production system and a return to a steady flow of airplane deliveries to its customers.
Strike action began on 2 September and has prevented Boeing from completing several aircraft deliveries scheduled for this month. The new three-year contract includes a ratification bonus and improved pension payments. It also maintains the existing health care plans which Boeing earlier threatened to cut.
“By standing together our members forced Boeing to withdraw every one of their takeaway proposals,” says IAM district 751 president Mark Blondin. “Our members have integrity and ethics and didn’t sell each other out. Since the 1990s no union in North America has held the line on health care and retiree benefits – costs that have risen dramatically. Our members did just that in this strike.”
BRENDAN SOBIE/SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
