IAM District 837 has responded to recent statements from Boeing regarding the ongoing mediation process between the two parties. The union says that Boeing’s claim of being in mediation “for several weeks” is not accurate.
“While Boeing claims we’ve been engaged in mediation ‘for several weeks,’ that’s simply misleading. The last time we met with the company and the federal mediator was on Sept. 29. Since then, there have been no further mediation sessions,” the union stated.
The union explained that after the last meeting, it submitted a revised pre-ratification settlement offer through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). According to the union, Boeing rejected this proposal and instead presented the same five-year contract offer that had previously been rejected by union members. Boeing made acceptance of this offer contingent on meeting a specific deadline. Since the membership had already voted down the offer, the union did not put it up for another vote.
“In good faith, we notified Boeing—through FMCS—that the union remains ready to return to mediation with just 24 hours’ notice. As of today, the company has not provided any dates of availability,” the statement continued.
The union emphasized its goal of reaching a fair agreement that addresses its members’ concerns. “Our goal remains to reach a fair agreement that addresses the issues our members have clearly identified. We continue to stand ready to meet at any time to reach a resolution and end this strike.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 600,000 active and retired members in various industries across North America.
