Boeing workers strike in the USA

This video from the USA is called Inside Look: Boeing Strike Vote.

By Hector Cordon in the USA:

US aircraft machinists strike Boeing

8 September 2008

In their second strike in as many contract negotiations, Boeing machinists struck the airplane manufacturing giant at 12:01 Saturday morning.

The three-year contract between the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and Aerospace Workers and Chicago-based Boeing Company expired last Wednesday and, despite a 48-hour last-minute negotiation extension requested by federal mediators and the governor of the state of Washington, the sides were unable to reach an agreement.

Over 27,000 members struck Boeing facilities in Washington, Oregon and Kansas. This is the first back-to-back strike in Boeing history. As of this writing no additional talks are scheduled.

Workers rejected Boeing’s “best and final offer” with 80 percent voting against the contract. The union then called for a second vote on whether to walk out, which passed with 87 percent voting in favor to strike. Union members rejected Boeing’s offer of an 11 percent wage increase over three years (well below the rate of inflation) and a slightly improved pension, pointing out that increased health insurance co-pays and deductibles would wipe out any wage gain.

See also here. And here. And here. And here.

Update 10 September 2008: here.

Update 12 September 2008: here.