Boeing strike: Union refuses to vote on ‘final’ contract offer this week

Boeing’s (NYSE:BA) “best and final contract offer” will not be put to a vote by its largest union, as negotiators claim the proposal was made public without any discussion and does not go far enough to address workers’ concerns.

The planemaker sweetened its offer to include a 30% pay hike over four years, a $6,000 ratification bonus and the reinstatement of a performance-linked bonus. The offer is contingent on ratification by 11.59 pm on September 27.

“This is a non-negotiated offer from Boeing (BA),” the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union District 751 informed its members. “Your negotiating committee did not have any discussion or input on this offer.”

As for the offer’s deadline, IAM District 751 said this would give it enough time to present details to its membership or secure all voting locations. “The company has refused to meet for further discussion; therefore, we will not be voting on the 27th.”

“Employees knew Boeing (BA) executives could do better, and this (offer) shows the workers were right all along,” said Brian Bryant, IAM international president. “The proposal will be analyzed to see if it’s up to the task of helping workers gain adequate ground on prior sacrifices.”

Around 33,000 Boeing (BA) workers have been on strike for more than a week, but they face financial pressures to return to work. Their final paychecks came in last week and they will lose company-provided health insurance at the end of the month, Associated Press reported.

Separately, nearly 5,000 IAM Local 774 workers members at Textron’s (TXT) aviation unit in Wichita, Kansas went on strike on Monday after rejecting the company’s contract offer.