[craig nigrelli]
A NON-ELECTION-RELATED story– but one that still involves voting.
OVERNIGHT, BOEING WORKERS VOTED TO ACCEPT THE COMPANY’S LATEST CONTRACT OFFER — PUTTING AN END TO THE COSTLIEST STRIKE IN THE U-S IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
59 percent of the MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE DEAL.
THEY HAD VOTED ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY **AGAINST** BOEING’S FIRST OFFER — which STARTED THE STRIKE on September 13th.
THEN less than two weeks ago — 64 PERCENT SAID “NO” , THEY WERE **AGAINST** THE SECOND OFFER — EXTENDING THE STRIKE.
UNDER THE NEW DEAL — WORKERS WILL GET AN IMMEDIATE RAISE OF 13 PERCENT, THEN A 9 PERCENT PAY INCREASE NEXT YEAR AND IN 20-26, THEN ANOTHER 7 PERCENT IN 20-27 — WHICH IS THE FINAL YEAR OF THE CONTRACT.
ALTOGETHER THAT’S A 43 PERCENT RAISE TOTAL
WORKERS WILL ALSO GET A 12-THOUSAND DOLLAR BONUS — PART OF WHICH THEY CAN PUT TOWARD THEIR 401-K.
HOWEVER, THE NEW DEAL DID **NOT** RESTORE THE COMPANY’S PENSION PLAN — WHICH HAD BEEN A MAJOR STICKING POINT in the strike that has cost THE JET MAKER MORE THAN ONE **BILLION** DOLLARS IN REVENUE
THE 33-THOUSAND UNION MEMBERS START RETURNING TO WORK ON WEDNESDAY.