Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Machinists union to post Boeing's contract offer online
Boeing Co.’s striking Machinists union expects to post a contract offer from the company online Thursday, two days before the union is scheduled to vote on the pact, a union spokeswoman said.
Connie Kelliher, a spokeswoman for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said Wednesday the proposal covering 27,000 commercial airplane workers will be available through the union’s Web site.
“Our members want to see all of the actual language, not just a summary,” she said.
Boeing and union representatives were proofing the contract Wednesday and hammering out an agreement that would determine when union members resume work, she said. Union members are slated to vote on the proposed deal Saturday.
Boeing officials have said they hope the union employees in Washington state, Oregon and Kansas will return to work starting next week.
The two sides agreed to the proposed contract late Monday after five days of negotiations with a federal mediator in Washington, D.C. Major sticking points included job security and health benefits.
The union workers walked off the job Sept. 6 after rejecting earlier contract offers from Boeing, forcing the airplane maker to close its commercial jet factories. The strike, now in its 54th day, is the union’s fourth against Boeing in two decades.
The strike has cost the company an estimated $100 million daily in deferred revenue and postponed delivery of its commercial planes, including its already delayed 787 jetliner.
It remains unclear how long it would take Boeing’s commercial aircraft business to return to pre-strike production levels. Boeing representatives said the company will conduct an assessment once work resumes.
Shares of Boeing rose $1.75, or 3.6 percent, to $50.66 in afternoon trading Wednesday.
Connie Kelliher, a spokeswoman for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said Wednesday the proposal covering 27,000 commercial airplane workers will be available through the union’s Web site.
“Our members want to see all of the actual language, not just a summary,” she said.
Boeing and union representatives were proofing the contract Wednesday and hammering out an agreement that would determine when union members resume work, she said. Union members are slated to vote on the proposed deal Saturday.
Boeing officials have said they hope the union employees in Washington state, Oregon and Kansas will return to work starting next week.
The two sides agreed to the proposed contract late Monday after five days of negotiations with a federal mediator in Washington, D.C. Major sticking points included job security and health benefits.
The union workers walked off the job Sept. 6 after rejecting earlier contract offers from Boeing, forcing the airplane maker to close its commercial jet factories. The strike, now in its 54th day, is the union’s fourth against Boeing in two decades.
The strike has cost the company an estimated $100 million daily in deferred revenue and postponed delivery of its commercial planes, including its already delayed 787 jetliner.
It remains unclear how long it would take Boeing’s commercial aircraft business to return to pre-strike production levels. Boeing representatives said the company will conduct an assessment once work resumes.
Shares of Boeing rose $1.75, or 3.6 percent, to $50.66 in afternoon trading Wednesday.
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