A strike by union machinists is nearing its second week.
About 33,000 Boeing factory workers in the Pacific Northwest represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers began a strike last Friday after rejecting a proposal to raise pay by 25% over four years.
They want raises of at least 40%, the return of a traditional pension plan and other improvements in the contract offer they voted down.
Boeing and the union are negotiating with the aid of a federal mediator.
Meanwhile, Boeing’s CEO said Wednesday that the company will begin furloughing “a large number” of employees to conserve cash during the strike by union machinists that began last week.
Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg said the people who would be required to take time off without pay starting in the coming days include executives, managers and other employees based in the U.S.
The strike is halting production of several airplane models, including Boeing’s best-selling plane, the 737 Max. The company gets more than half of the purchase price when new planes are delivered to buyers, so the strike will quickly hurt Boeing’s cash flow.
The last strike in 2008 lasted two months.
