2008 Boeing machinists strike

{{Short description|Mechanist strike}}

{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}

A strike by about 27,000 machinists at Boeing over outsourcing, job security, pay, and benefits began September 7, 2008.{{cite news

| title=Simmering Boeing strike scorching both sides

| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2008212140_boeing29.html

| publisher=The Seattle Times

| date=September 29, 2008

| last=Gates

| first=Dominic

| quote=Three weeks into the Machinists strike at Boeing, the company and union appear determined not to blink. The strike is shaping up to be long and damaging. A one-month stoppage could cost Boeing around $1.3 billion in profits that won't be recouped for years.

| access-date=October 26, 2008

| archive-date=November 1, 2008

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101230554/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2008212140_boeing29.html

| url-status=dead

}}{{cite news

|title=Boeing strike likely to run into November at least

|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jRDk_jig_rWglPcX78lw5vKlRjSAD93QI5Q00

|last=Klass

|first=Tim

|date=October 14, 2008

|publisher=Associated Press

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018205633/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jRDk_jig_rWglPcX78lw5vKlRjSAD93QI5Q00

|archive-date=October 18, 2008

}}{{cite news

|title=Union says Boeing strike is about contractors

|quote=Aerospace giant wants to maintain freedom to use contingent workers

|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26647110

|first=Eve

|last=Tahmincioglu

|date=September 10, 2008

|work=NBC News

|access-date=November 18, 2019

|archive-date=March 5, 2016

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305074440/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26647110/

|url-status=dead

}}

The union, International Association of Machinists, and Boeing appeared unwilling to compromise to settle the strike. The company had 3,700 jets on back order, which union members hoped would put pressure on Boeing to end the strike.{{cite news

|url=http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2008/09/29/Strike_at_Boeing_appears_stagnant/UPI-40271222715937/

|title=Strike at Boeing appears stagnant

|publisher=United Press International

|date=September 29, 2008

|access-date=October 26, 2008

|archive-date=September 30, 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930184118/http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2008/09/29/Strike_at_Boeing_appears_stagnant/UPI-40271222715937/

|url-status=live

}}

In late October 2008, a tentative deal was reached between Boeing and the union, in which Boeing made a number of concessions.{{cite news

|title=Boeing Machinists share details of contract offer

|work=The Wichita Eagle

|date=October 30, 2008

|first=Molly

|last=Mcmillin

}}

Boeing told SPEEA engineers that the company planned less outsourcing on future airplanes, including the next 787 Dreamliner model.{{cite news

|title=Boeing exec vows more 787 design work to stay in-house

|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008331680_webboeing30.html

|publisher=The Seattle Times

|date=October 30, 2008

|first=Dominic

|last=Gates

|access-date=October 31, 2008

|archive-date=November 3, 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103102129/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008331680_webboeing30.html

|url-status=dead

}}

On November 1, 2008, members of the union ratified the contract, ending the eight-week strike. The new contract was approved by 74 percent of those voting in favor. This was the longest strike against Boeing by this union since 1995, and the fourth in twenty years. The strike cost the union members an average of $7,000 in base pay and cost the company $100 million per day in revenue and penalties with a postponement of the delivery of aircraft. Boeing has a $350 billion backlog.{{cite news

|title=Machinists Back Contract With Boeing; 8-Week Strike Ends

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/business/02boeing.html?ref=business

|publisher=The Associated Press

|date=November 2, 2008

|access-date=February 24, 2017

|archive-date=February 13, 2015

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213214655/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/business/02boeing.html?ref=business

|url-status=live

}}