Boeing workers decide to strike

September 4, 2008

Boeing staff have rejected an 11% pay rise over three years

Workers at US aviation giant Boeing have voted to go on strike in a dispute over pay and benefits, but any walkout has been delayed for two days.

The strike - voted for by 87% of assembly workers - was due to start on Thursday, after staff rejected Boeing’s new contract offer.

Yet the strike has been postponed for 48 hours after Boeing agreed to extend the outgoing contract by two days.

Boeing staff have turned down an 11% pay deal over three years.

Deal brokering

The contract extension came at the request of Washington State governor Chris Gregoire, who is working to try to broker a deal.

Unions and management have disagreed over basic pay, health benefits, pension increases and cost of living adjustments.

The firm’s “best and final” proposal includes average pay and benefits of $34,000 (£12,000), said the firm.

If Boeing fails to come up with a new proposal within two days then the strike, by some 27,000 workers, will go ahead.

A strike could mean further delays to Boeing’s forthcoming Dreamliner 787 plane.

The new mid-sized plane’s maiden flight will take place later this year, about 15 months behind its original schedule.