Boeing locks out its private firefighters around Seattle over pay dispute

Boeing has locked retired its backstage unit of firefighters who support its aircraft-manufacturing plants successful the Seattle country and brought successful replacements aft the latest circular of negotiations with the firefighters’ national failed to present an statement connected ...

Boeing has locked retired its backstage unit of firefighters who support its aircraft-manufacturing plants successful the Seattle country and brought successful replacements aft the latest circular of negotiations with the firefighters' national failed to present an statement connected wages.

The institution said Saturday that it locked retired astir 125 firefighters and a installation astir 170 miles (275 kilometers) distant successful cardinal Washington. The firefighters service arsenic archetypal responders to fires and aesculapian emergencies and tin telephone successful assistance from section occurrence departments.

“Despite extended discussions done an impartial national mediator, we did not scope an statement with the union,” Boeing said successful a statement. “We person present locked retired members of the bargaining portion and afloat implemented our contingency program with highly qualified firefighters performing the enactment of (union) members.”

In a connection Saturday, the International Association of Firefighters national said Boeing’s lockout is intended to “punish, intimidate and coerce its firefighters into accepting a declaration that undervalues their work.”

“Putting firm greed implicit safety, Boeing has decided to lockout our members and the information of the Washington facilities has been needlessly enactment astatine risk,” said Edward Kelly, the IAFF’s wide president.

Boeing stressed that the lockout volition person “no impact” connected its operations.

The labour quality comes arsenic Boeing navigates mounting losses — much than $24 cardinal since the commencement of 2019 — and renewed scrutiny implicit prime and information successful its manufacturing since a doorway plug blew retired of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max flying implicit Oregon successful January.

Boeing and the national stay acold isolated successful their negotiations, which person been going connected for 2 1/2 months. Each broadside accuses the different of bad-faith negotiating.

The company, which is headquartered successful Arlington, Virginia, said Saturday that its latest connection includes wide yearly wage increases and a caller compensation operation for firefighters connected a 24-hour displacement docket that would effect successful an mean wage summation of astir $21,000 a year. Boeing says firefighters were paid $91,000 connected mean past year.

The union, which argues Boeing has saved billions successful security costs by employing its ain on-site firefighters, has said it's seeking raises of 40% to 50%. Boeing's projected wage summation would inactive permission crews earning 20% to 30% little than firefighters successful the cities wherever Boeing plants are located, the national said.

A large sticking constituent is Boeing’s request to marque firefighters hold 19 years to deed apical wage scale, up from 14 years. The national is proposing 5 years.