MOSES LAKE – As the Boeing strike continues, making today the 20th day union members have picketed at the gates, members have lost health insurance coverage. Union members have decided they are not voting on the new contract proposal Boeing released Sept. 23. 

Ted J. Land, Boeing Media Relations, said almost all Boeing airplane work has been paused in Washington due to the strike. Land said there is still some work being done in North Carolina and by non-striking Washington employees. However, he said, Boeing is keeping the number of non-striking employees confidential. 

Insurance 

Monday marked the final day striking members of the International Aerospace Machinists 751 union had health insurance. The company cut access Tuesday, according to IAM 751.  

The union is encouraging members to find a plan through Washington Health Plan Finder, which will allow members to start applying for coverage Tuesday. There are also options through COBRA, however, the union warns that it is often the most expensive option. Striking workers have 60 days starting Oct. 1 to enroll in COBRA. The cost of COBRA is 102% of the regular premium.  

Boeing released a statement saying as soon as employees return to work, their health insurance will be reinstated. However, that process may take ten days to become active again.  

New Contract 

Boeing International released a statement Sept. 23 entitled “Best and Final Contract Offer.” The offer included a 30% general wage increase, a $6,000 ratification bonus, reinstated the Aerospace Machinists Performance Program bonus and increased Boeing’s 401(k) to 100% of employees' first 8% of pay, plus an automatic 4% company contribution. In the former contract, it was a 25% general wage increase, a $3,000 ratification bonus, no AMPP bonus and 75% of 8% of pay plus the automatic 4% company contribution.  

The statement was released on the Boeing website and included a request to union members to vote on the new contract by Sept. 27.  

However, according to IAM 751 this offer was sent to the media and members without negotiation with union leadership.  

“This tactic is a blatant show of disrespect to you — our members — and the bargaining process,” a Sept. 23 statement from IAM 751 reads. “Boeing does not get to decide when or if you vote. Boeing has misled the media by wrongfully stating the Union membership is required to vote on their latest offer.”  

IAM 751 released a follow-up statement Sept. 24 regarding the new contract saying the union released a survey to members and members indicated in the survey that they were not interested in that offer, in part due to the manner Boeing released the offer. 

“The company's approach of releasing this offer directly to the media and our members feels like a slap in the face to those who understand the values of collective bargaining,” reads the Sept. 24 press release. “Going on strike is never easy, but our members made the tough decision to stand on principles for a better future — to risk everything and withhold their labor — to get the agreement they deserve. We expect to negotiate any resolution to this strike. Then, our members will have their say.” 

It is unclear whether the direct contact with the media and employees violated the National Labor Relations Act, though similar issues have arisen in the past wherein a federal judge ruled that such communication was a violation when Hackensack Meridian Health communicated similarly with union members in May of 2019, according to a press release from the National Labor Relations Board. 

Representatives for the union and Boeing met to negotiate Sept. 25. There was little information about this meeting available form either party. Neither IAM 751 nor Boeing answered several requests for comment on the matter. However, a Boeing spokesperson did contact the Columbia Basin Herald with a brief comment.  

“We remain committed to resetting our relationship with our represented employees and negotiating in good faith and want to reach an agreement as soon as possible,” Land said in a statement to the Columbia Basin Herald. “We remain prepared to go back to the bargaining table at any time.” 

Local picketers

Union members are still manning the picket line constantly in Moses Lake according to Sam Taylor, a picketing lead. He said although a lot of the public does not see them at the line, they are making their presence known.  

“We've been stagnant for so long that we've fallen behind, not just the trades as a whole, but against the aviation industry,” Taylor said. “Where the airlines are paying significantly more to start and for licenses and the certifications that we carry and really, we do recognize the responsibility (for the safety) of the flying public is really in our hands as we build and maintain these airplanes. We want to be paid fairly for that.” 

Taylor said he and other members are ready to be out on the line for months if that's what it takes to receive better pay and benefits. He said he has saved money and believes he and his coworkers deserve more for the work they do.

“The contract especially, like so much else that's affecting Boeing at this time, this is kind of the fruit of their decisions the last 15 years, even beyond,” Taylor said. “The one thing I would say is words and actions must become more consistent. You can't keep telling the customers, we build the safest airplanes, we treat our people the best, we treat our suppliers respectfully. ... You know, the actions are still cost cutting, corner cutting, safety is second quality is second.”