Unionized machinists at Boeing have voted to accept a four-year contract proposal, ending a 53-day strike that halted production on key commercial airplane programs. According to the International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 751, which represents Boeing’s front-line workforce, 59% of voting members approved the contract in a vote held on November 4.
The contract includes a 38% general wage increase over its duration, enhanced 401(k) contributions, and a commitment from Boeing to build any newly announced aircraft within the Puget Sound region. Nearly 26,000 of the union’s 33,000 members participated in the vote.
Work is expected to resume on Boeing’s 737, 767, and 777 programs in the coming days, with all employees required to return by November 12. The strike, which began on September 13, had effectively paused operations in the Puget Sound area, limiting deliveries to aircraft approved for delivery prior to the work stoppage. Production of the 787 model in South Carolina, where employees are not unionized, was unaffected.
The IAM initially sought a 40% wage increase and the reinstatement of pensions eliminated in 2014, though the new contract did not include a pension provision. "We just couldn't get the pension out of this company," said Jon Holden, president of IAM District 751. He noted that the union would continue to prioritize retirement security in future negotiations.
The agreement with the machinists comes shortly after Spirit AeroSystems and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace’s Wichita Engineering Unit reached a contract for engineers at Spirit, a key Boeing supplier. That contract included a minimum 19% wage increase over four years, marking the resolution of a separate labor negotiation.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who took on his role five weeks before the strike began, has communicated plans to restore stability to Boeing's operations, enhance production quality, and improve the company’s financial outlook. With the new labor agreements in place, the company aims to boost production and address operational challenges on its 737 and 787 lines in the coming years.
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