Striking Boeing Workers Reach Tentative Deal

by James Parks, Oct 28, 2008

Striking workers at Boeing Co. reached a tentative agreement late last night on a new four-year pact that will provide job security for its members and limit the amount of work outside vendors can perform in the workplace.

The 27,000 workers, members of the Machinists (IAM), have been on strike since Sept. 6 at Boeing facilities in Kansas, Oregon and Washington State.

Among the other issues resolved in the latest round of bargaining were wage rates, health care benefits for current and future employees, pension improvements and work rule changes designed to improve productivity.

Full details of the agreement are not publicly available until they can be compiled and distributed to IAM members in all Boeing locations. The IAM negotiating committee unanimously endorsed the tentative agreement and members will vote on the deal in the next three to five days.

IAM aerospace coordinator Mark Blondin says in a statement:

This tentative agreement is the result of hard work and great sacrifice by many people. But no one deserves more credit than the workers at Boeing, who conducted themselves with dignity and determination throughout this ordeal. On behalf of the entire negotiating committee, I want to say it has been our honor to serve as their representatives.

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