BERKELEY, Mo. – Despite a six-figure pay offer and bonuses on the table, workers from Boeing say this fight is about more than money.
On Monday, union members stood outside of Boeing’s headquarters in Berkeley, Missouri, with picket signs, expressing their frustration with management. Workers told FOX 2 that Boeing’s latest offer does not go far enough.
The protest began just after midnight, after union members overwhelmingly rejected a revised four-year contract offer.
“There’s a lot of feeling of disrespect that comes between management and the employees. That’s a fact. There’s got to be some improvement across the board on them economics and recognizing what we’ve done to this point,” Earl Schuessler, a striking Boeing worker, said.
Another protesting worker, Jim Evans, says the contract that Boeing offered to employees is no better than what they currently have.
IAM District 837 represents roughly 3,200 workers who build Boeing’s fighter jets and defense systems.
The company’s offer included a $5,000 signing bonus and raised average salaries to over $100,000.
“Boeing is losing money and this is an extremely important negotiation for Boeing when it’s continuing to lose money and bleed talent. They are trying to brush it off like it’s turbulence. It’s a critical point at which Boeing needs to decide its future,” said Parag Amin, a business and labor expert.
In regard to the protest, Boeing released a statement, saying:
“We’re disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules. We’ve activated contingency plans to support our customers.”
FOX 2 has learned that there are no talks currently scheduled between Boeing and union workers.
Employees say they are willing to continue protesting until they receive a fair deal.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
