Boeing workers at its St. Louis defense facility have reportedly rejected a proposed wage hike, continuing their protest against the American aerospace giant.
Over 3,200 workers at Boeing’s St. Louis facility began protesting on August 4.
Boeing’s CEO recently said the impact of the protests at St. Louis facility is likely to be less compared to that which took place in Seattle last year.
Boeing workers protesting at its defense facility near Missouri’s St. Louis are pushing the American aircraft maker to offer wage growth similar to that of Seattle-area employees. Boeing’s senior executive at St. Louis, however, backed the company’s offer with a 40% wage hike, Reuters reported.
“Our offer was strong then and is strong now with an average of 40% wage growth,” Boeing’s executive Dan Gillian told Reuters.
The offer that St. Louis-area workers have rejected included a 20% general wage increase, a $5,000 ratification bonus, and more vacation time and sick leave.
Over 3,200 workers at Boeing’s St. Louis facility began protesting on August 4 to demand a contract offer with a higher general wage hike and improvements in the company’s 401(k) retirement plan.
“3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough. This is about respect and dignity, not empty promises,” the union had posted on X.
The protest is led by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). The association is one of America’s largest unions, representing roughly 600,000 members in the aerospace, defence, shipbuilding and manufacturing industries.
These workers are pressing to get an offer given to Boeing’s Seattle unit employees in November last year. The contract with Seattle-based workers included a 38% general wage increase over four years, higher retirement plan contributions, restoration of an annual bonus, and a $12,000 signing bonus. The Seattle unit worker had also made the aircraft maker promise to set up its next commercial jet in their area, provided the launch happens within the four-year term of the contract.
This is the second-largest protest that Boeing has witnessed since the appointment of its present CEO, Kelly Ortberg. Boeing’s CEO recently said the impact of the protests at the St. Louis facility is likely to be less compared to that which took place in Seattle last year, where around 30,000 workers protested.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about the implications of the strike. We’ll manage our way through that,” Ortberg said, according to Reuters.
