Efforts to end the ongoing strike at Boeing Co. continue, as federal mediators engage with both the company and the union representing 33,000 striking hourly workers, Bloomberg reports.
The strike began on September 13, and contract talks have been intermittent since then, with Boeing having recently broken off negotiations over a week ago.
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has stepped in to facilitate discussions between the two sides. Beth Schindler, a regional director at FMCS, stated that mediators are in regular contact with both parties, monitoring any potential shifts in their positions.
“We are very active behind the scenes, even when they’re not at the table. If there’s momentum happening, we want to capitalize on it,” she explained.
The strike represents Boeing’s first major labor disruption in 16 years, shutting down manufacturing across the Pacific Northwest and testing the leadership of new CEO Kelly Ortberg. Schindler noted that, historically, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has experienced prolonged strikes, with an average length of 58 days, suggesting that this current stalemate could continue for some time.
Since the strike began, both sides have expressed a willingness to negotiate, but each has attributed the lack of progress to the other’s inflexibility. Union officials are particularly focused on reinstating a defined pension plan that was suspended as part of a 2014 agreement, a move that has met with significant disapproval from their members. Boeing has further escalated tensions by bypassing traditional collective bargaining channels and directly proposing changes to its workforce, including a recent announcement of a 10% reduction in staff.
Myla Hite, the primary mediator with four decades of experience, is actively working to build rapport with both parties. Javier Ramirez, another experienced mediator, is also involved in the discussions. Schindler highlighted the complexity of the negotiations and the significant economic implications of a resolution.
“We’re looking for rocks to turn over to see if there’s something underneath,” Ramirez said.
