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Striking Boeing machinists union to vote on new contract offer Monday
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Striking Boeing machinists union to vote on new contract offer Monday

Boeing machinists’ union leaders approve the company’s latest contract offer, paving the way for a vote on Monday this could end seven-week strike.

“It is time for our members to consolidate these gains and declare victory with confidence,” said Local 751 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. a statement announcing the agreement late Thursday.

The union, which represents 33,000 workers, rejected two previous proposals from the company. The ongoing strike has halted production at the company’s Pacific Northwest factories since September 13.

Boeing’s latest proposal would raise wages 38% over four years, up from the company’s most recent proposal of 35% but short of the 40% the union wants. The new offer also includes a ratification bonus of $12,000, compared to $7,000 in the previous vote.

But there is one key union demand that Boeing has not budged on. Machinists want the company restore the traditional retirement plan they lost a decade ago, which remains a major source of anger among the union’s rank and file.

Boeing said it was not willing to reinstate the defined benefit pension plan that it froze in 2014although he has proposed increasing the company’s contributions to union members’ 401(k) retirement plans.

Union leaders nevertheless recommend that members approve the latest proposal.

“In every negotiation and strike, there comes a point where we have extracted everything we can from bargaining and withholding our work. We have reached this point now and are at risk of receiving a regressive or lesser offer in the future,” union leaders said in their statement.

The union rejected Boeing’s previous proposal last week, with 64% of participating members voting against. The vote took place the same day the company announced a massive loss of $6 billion in the third quarter of the year.

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