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Boeing presents 'best and final' contract offer to machinist union

caption: Boeing workers wave picket signs as they strike after union members voted to reject a contract offer, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, near the company's factory in Everett, Wash.
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Boeing workers wave picket signs as they strike after union members voted to reject a contract offer, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, near the company's factory in Everett, Wash.
(AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Boeing machinists have until Friday to decide whether to accept the company's latest union contract offer. As employees continued to strike Monday, Boeing said this is its "best and final" offer.

"If approved, the average annual machinist pay at the end of this 4-year contract would increase from $75,608 a year to $111,155," Boeing said in a statement.

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Shortly after the company made its new offer to union workers Monday, Boeing began sharing the details with the public.

"Right now, the latest proposal from the company is being reviewed," International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers President Brian Bryant said in a statement. "Some of the top priorities to achieve a settlement remain and always have been ensuring respect and fair pay, recognition of the sacrifices these workers have made, along with progress on retirement security and other key issues. Boeing executives have always known they could do better and this proposal shows the company can do better. This news validates every step that hardworking Boeing employees have taken on the picket line thus far."

IAM 751, which represents about 33,000 machinists, most of whom work at Boeing's Washington factories, overwhelmingly voted in favor of striking nearly two weeks ago. The union was aiming for a 40% raise in wages over three years. It also wanted the company to bring back its pension program that was nixed 10 years ago; however, it was willing to accept greater company contributions to 401Ks.

In Boeing's "best and final" offer, the company is offering a 30% general wage increase, as well as a $6,000 bonus if union workers accept the contract. Boeing would also up its contributions to 401Ks. The offer is contingent on the union accepting by the end of Friday, Sept. 27.

As with the company's previous contract offer, workers will get 13 holidays (up from 12), a commitment to build Boeing's next airplane in Washington state, and 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

Days before Boeing made this contract offer, CEO Kelly Ortberg announced furloughs and pay reductions amid the strike. Ortberg and his leadership team are taking pay cuts. The CEO explained that the moves aim to preserve cash and help the company recover.

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"We are initiating temporary furloughs over the coming days that will impact a large number of US-based executives, managers, and employees," Ortberg said in a Sept. 18 statement. "All benefits will continue for affected employees, and to limit the impact to you, we are planning for selected employees to take one week of furlough every four weeks on a rolling basis for the duration of the strike."

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