Boeing machinists reject deal and continue strike

What happened

Boeing’s largest union rejected the company’s latest contract offer on Wednesday and voted to continue the strike that began on September 13. Local leaders of the union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said 64% of its members voted against Boeing’s latest offer. included a 35% raise over four years, a $7,000 ratification bonus, and increased health and 401(k) contributions. The union demanded a 40% wage increase.

Who said what

Boeing had hoped that its “sweetened deal,” after an initial 25% increase, would be “sufficient to end the strike by 33,000 engineers” in the Seattle area, which has affected most of the company’s commercial aircraft building, according to The Washington Post. But the company “may have underestimated the distrust and lingering resentment that persists among rank-and-file employees,” especially over a 2014 contract in which the union signed off on its committed pension after Boeing threatened to move airline production out of the area.