Around 3,200 unionized workers in Boeing’s defense division walked off the job Monday after rejecting a restructured four-year labor agreement with the aerospace giant.
Announced over the weekend by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the strike follows the second contract rejection in the last seven days from IAM District 837 union members at Boeing’s facilities in St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri.
The initial contract rejection came on July 27, which triggered a seven-day “cooling off period” before a strike would begin. Boeing proposed a modified labor agreement that was also shot down by union members, ultimately resulting in the first strike at Boeing’s defense division since 1996.
Boeing said that it had offered a deal that would have seen employees’ earnings raised by 40 percent that included a 20 percent general wage increase and a $5,000 ratification bonus. This agreement would have reportedly brought the average IAM District 837 worker’s pay up to $102,000 from $75,000.
“We’re disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40 percent average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules,” Boeing executive Dan Gillian said in a statement to The New York Times. “We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers.”
Reports over the last year detailing labor shortages across the aviation landscape have struck the industry hard. In June, Canadian technology company CAE forecasted that over the next 10 years, more than 400,000 aircraft maintenance technicians will be needed to support consumer demand. Members of the IAM District 837 appear to have taken notice of the lack of skilled workers in their field and are using that as leverage at the negotiating table.
“IAM District 837 members have spoken loud and clear, they deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation’s defense,” said IAM District 837 Directing Business Representative Tom Boelling. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with these working families as they fight for fairness and respect on the job.”
The facilities in St. Louis and St. Charles assemble and maintain advanced aircraft, including the F-15, F/A-18, along with other defense technologies.
Well, this is somewhat disturbing and disappointing.
I don’t know about you guys and gals, but I’m here for aviation, particularly general aviation, news and commentary. Not to get my bougie freak on and feel high-end and exclusive.
I don’t get it…what is this??
I’m wondering the same thing. Is this still AvWeb? jjbaker’s comment/advertisement with statements like:
“Firecrown: The Category King in Affluent Enthusiast Media and Commerce”
sent my creep-o-meter to the redline.
I hope the Boeing workers know what they’re doing. I wish them luck. The contract they rejected seems pretty good and going on strike is a risky thing. Ask any Northwest Airlines mechanic who thought the company could not survive without them.
I shared the content of the “About Us” page from the company which acquired AVweb a while ago. Recently there have been firings.
I posted this about Firecrown twice yesterday on different articles. Firecrown owns AvWeb and virtually every other general aviation publication. The description is from the Firecrown web site (Firecrown.com)
Okay, let’s spend a moment reviewing what Firecrown writes about itself.
These traits are typical of lazy, machine-produced writing that requires about half a second of effort to excrete onto the internet. It seems that Firecrown considers its website visitors to be so ill-educated that they have not the wit to recognize AI BS when they see it.
Is Russ Niles still the Editor-in-Chief? If so, I think many of us would like to hear from him about the obvious changes in AvWeb. At least I would, before I unsubscribe.
My current favorite is the “in depth review” of headsets currently listed on the Avweb home page (no comments allowed there). I love in depth reviews that list the name and price. There’s so much depth and insight there.
Hey, FIrecrown, If you want to sell me something through affiliate links, at least do an actual review! Don’t just list products I can buy! Us “luxury” buyers actually expect to be treated with intelligence, not as cash dispensors. Time to earn your revenue as a journalist might.
He is not. A new publication is already opened.
So long AvWeb. The content has deteriorated to the point of no interest and the commentators are no more than a bunch of parrots for the democrat party. Imagine: Let’s cancel X but keep CNN, WaPo, NY Times, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, et. al. And probably not care about what the DNI has uncovered about your heroes. I’m waiting to see some jail time for HRC.
I can’t speak for anyone else but I’m pretty sure l reflect a lot of what the readers think.
For JJBaker, nobody gives Rosie red rats rectum about what you wrote here. We’re not impressed with what you perceive as your wealth, influence, importance, and your self perceived royalty over anyone else.
Your “look at me” piece is ill placed. Take your glory campaign elsewherel.
Not trying to defend JJBaker, but I think the post was meant to be more cynical. Maybe he didn’t need to pos the whole firecrown puke of words.
I will agree that if AVWeb changed ownership and someone like Niles is not replacing Niles then this is no a place for me. I sure as hell don’t fit firecracks audience.
Chuck, you are remotely aware that the text I shared is a verbatim copy of the text shown on Firecrowns “About Us” page?
I am not the author of this text, it is shared here to make you (and some others) aware of how the company which just killed AVweb, views and sells its readership. If course it is your right to judge after skimming over this text.
I would kindly ask you to re-read and adjust your attitude.
It is what it is. Chuck had to vent and let it rip on someone he obviously misunderstood completely. I can live with and am used to being attacked. It does not affect me at all.
Good luck to you guys with this exquisite publication.
This place started downhill when Paul B. left.
I dropped all my Firecrown subscriptions recently. Didn’t like the change they instituted. Now it’s time to drop AvWeb as well.
Jason, is it true that Russ is out?
Thanks for publishing this information, jjbaker. It’s unfortunate that some readers did not grasp what you were doing, but you handled their lashes with class.
I have long suspected that Firecrown is not targetting folks like me. I am a not-very-wealthy retired clergyman who has long loved all things aviation. I have been flying for 58 years and have been fortunate to have had many friends who have allowed me to fly their planes over the years. Since 2003 I’ve been flying a very nice Comanche 250, for which I share many expenses with the owner.
Firecrown’s lean toward the uber rich may help its bottom line, but it’s getting very close to turning me off. Don’t get me wrong: I don’t resent the uber rich. I just wish that we ordinary flying folk would get more than crumbs from aviation publications. Maybe I’ll have to cancel Flying and just stick with EAA’s Sport Pilot, where thousands of non-wealthy aviation lovers find a home, along with the wealthy ones. There we are all family.
Yes, Sir. Together with two other senior editors.
AVbrief.org was launched a few days later and those who have missed the old days of this publication when it was still managed by Belvoir, will find a happy place elsewhere, where they are treated like people and not sold as cash-cows.
I am basically sticking around to let the various contacts and acquaintances I had the pleasure to meet here, know.
As a former AVweb team member (silently removed a few years ago) and very sad about these recent developments its the only remaining thing to do.
Thanks for the reply, Jason. I’ve transitioned myself and subscribed.
Just when I thought I was out…
What they strike for this time. Did someone miss the company paid lunch or something😆 ballbags