Boeing workers continue strike: Contract proposal rejected

After five weeks of striking, Boeing employees have rejected the latest contract proposal and are continuing their labor action. This decision came after Boeing announced third-quarter results showing a loss of over six billion U.S. dollars. The situation is by no means easy for the employees. Many of them have taken other jobs during the strike, losing their health insurance coverage in the process. Meanwhile, Boeing faces the challenge of not being able to produce new 737 models without its unionized workers. The rejected contract draft had proposed a 35 percent wage increase over four years, with a 12 percent raise planned for the first year. However, other contract benefits failed to soften the workers' stance. A major point of contention remains the abolition of the company pension plan, which the company describes as irreplaceable and costly. Many workers, like Sam Peltonen, view the pension as an important stability feature for long-term retention with the company, expressing their disappointment with the offer. Veteran striker Bartley Stokes demanded that union leaders negotiate better terms. Employees like Ken Stewart also stressed that their demands are justified. If an agreement is reached, workers could return to their jobs as early as next Friday, but by October 31 at the latest. Dr. Marc Cohen from Seattle University believes that the relationship between Boeing and the union is marked by fundamental differences. He pointed to previous stock buybacks as part of the company's financial problems rather than employee demands. The new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has been in office since August and has already announced plans to realign the company.