EVERETT — The Boeing Co.’s Machinists aren’t the only ones anxiously awaiting the outcome of today’s vote on the company’s contract offer, a vote that could end the union’s 57-day strike.
“Right now, the economy is getting hit by many factors,” said Donna Thompson, regional economist for the state’s Employment Security Department. “It will certainly be helpful for the economy when they go back to work.”
Across Snohomish County, businesses, residents and Machinists alike have felt the sting of a nearly two-month strike involving roughly 10,675 union members who live here. Machinists today will weigh whether the company’s latest four-year deal is worth accepting. If more than 50 percent of union members approve the offer, Machinist could be back to building Boeing jets by late Sunday.
That would be welcome news to Linda Thomas, who, with her husband, owns High Flying Espresso, located on the corner of 112th Street and Airport Road. The espresso stand relies on Boeing employees to stay in business. But Thomas believes enough time has gone by for the two sides to reach an agreement.
“We just hope that they will sign the contract and get back to work,” Thomas said.
About 27,000 Machinists across the Puget Sound region and in Oregon and Kansas have been without paychecks since Sept. 6, when they walked off the job. Roughly 80 percent of the union members who voted in early September rejected Boeing’s previous offer, saying it didn’t live up to expectations on wages, pension, health care and job security. Last Monday, negotiators for Boeing and the union reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, which has the endorsement of Machinist leaders.
Boeing’s offer includes a 15 percent wage hike over four years, guaranteed bonuses of at least $8,000, a bump in pension and job guarantees for 5,000 union members through the four-year contract. Reaction from Machinists to the offer has been mixed, with several members saying the contract seems similar to the last but stretched over four years instead of three.
Union leaders, who urged members to turn down the original offer, are backing Boeing’s contract proposal.
“When you look at this contract as a whole, it is much better than the previous offer,” union leaders wrote in a message to members. “We certainly wanted to make more gains, but it would have been irresponsible to walk away from the table and not allow you the opportunity to decide for yourself.”
Economist Thompson said the continuation of the strike would aggravate the regional economy, which is already coping with housing woes, the financial crisis and loss of jobs from local boat makers and construction-related companies.
“A lot of businesses are struggling already, without the strike,” she said.
For the Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour in Mukilteo, business was good prior to the Machinists strike. The center had seen about a 10 percent increase in visitors over last year despite a weaker economy, thanks in part to increased visits from Canadian, Australian, German and Japanese tourists, said Sandy Ward, marketing director for the Future of Flight.
Tour guides haven’t crossed the Machinists picket line since the strike began Sept. 6, shutting down the public tour of Boeing’s widebody jet factory. During the last 57 days, the flight center offered for a discounted rate an alternative: a guided bus tour of Paine Field and a stop at the Flying Heritage Museum, which hosts the vintage aircraft owned by Microsoft founder Paul Allen.
But several tour operators, who organize daily trips from Seattle to Mukilteo, have stopped bringing groups of visitors to the museum until the strike ends. In the past two months, the Future of Flight has seen its attendance drop to about one-third of the number of visitors to the center in September and October last year, Ward said.
But she expects a turnaround should the Machinists accept Boeing’s contract.
“We’re excited that they could come back to work and start spending again in the local economy,” Ward said.
The average Machinist has lost about $10,000 in wages and overtime through Sunday, with beginning Machinists, making about $12.72 hourly, losing roughly $5,000. That means Machinists haven’t been spending much money in local restaurants such as Sporty’s Beef &Brew.
Eatery co-owner Joe Ziskovsky said the strike, combined with the slow national economy, has put a dent in his business. However, Sporty’s has backed the Machinists from Day One of the strike, stopping by the picket lines with food for the strikers.
“They’ve supported us for years; it’s time for us to support them,” Ziskovsky said.
The business plans to continue to support Machinists no matter how they decide on the contract, he said.
“I’m more worried about them,” he said. “To me, it’s important that they get what they deserve.”
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