Members unanimously vote to strike if a contract cannot be reached

This morning, more than 90% of Teamsters Local 174 members working for The Boeing Company attended a virtual meeting to decide whether or not to strike. The group, consisting of 220 Local 174 members, voted unanimously to authorize a strike against their employer. These highly skilled workers are responsible for transporting aircraft engines, fuselages and other aircraft parts totaling up to 140 feet long, hazardous materials, and people including customers and executives. They also operate the tankers involved in fueling and de-fueling aircraft. A strike would cripple Boeing operations throughout the Puget Sound area.

Contract negotiations soured when Boeing executives came to the table with what seemed to be a philosophical refusal to acknowledge the skills and professionalism of their Teamster workforce. Management sought cuts across the board, and announced they were “very close” to their bottom line. Meanwhile, they restructured their management bonuses so that executives are more richly compensated.

“Boeing has spent the last 20 years creating a work environment that includes outsourcing, downsizing, and elimination of the work our members perform – all the while increasing management and executive bonuses to unbelievable heights,” said Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks. “Now, they are attempting to use their current self-inflicted situation to jam a sub-standard contract down the throats of our members. Our members will rise to that challenge.”

The contract expires at midnight on April 17, 2021.

View as press release here.