Boeing’s new boss pledged Friday to “reset” the relationship with the International Machinists Union (IAM), which represents tens of thousands of workers at the American aircraft manufacturer, in the context of negotiations for the next collective agreement.
“I met with the presidents of IAM 751 and W24 this week in Seattle for a productive conversation,” Ortberg said in a message to the group’s more than 170,000 employees a week after taking office.
These two local branches include almost all of Boeing’s 33,000 unionized workers. They are based in the Seattle area, where the factories for the 737, the manufacturer’s best-selling jet, and the 777 jumbo jet are located.
Mr. Ortberg said he “engaged with them to reset our relationship and reach a new collective agreement where we can come together to build a strong future for our employees in the region.”
“We are entering the final phase of negotiations,” insisted Kelly Ortberg.
The current sixteen-year-old agreement expires at midnight on September 12. The principle of a strike, in the absence of an agreement by the deadline, was approved by members in a vote on July 17.
“Mr. Ortberg knows he cannot rewrite the past, but we can work toward the future,” the IAM-District 751 negotiating committee said in a statement after the meeting.
“Boeing cannot restore the trust it has shattered over the past two decades unless it commits to ensuring job security here,” he continued.
The union is demanding in particular that the next aircraft – expected in 2035, but not yet presented – be manufactured in the region.
He also demands a “substantial” increase in salaries, of at least 40% over three years, as well as better social benefits (health insurance, retirement, cost of living, etc.).
“Although Mr. Ortberg is not sitting at the negotiating table, his influence on the negotiation process is undeniable,” the committee said.
Kelly Ortberg, 64, took over on August 8 from Dave Calhoun, who had been Boeing’s boss since early 2020 and whose departure was announced at the end of March after a series of problems affecting production quality.
During his first week, he toured the 737 factory in Renton, near Seattle, visited its main supplier Spirit Aerosystems and met with officials from Boeing’s airline customers, he said in his message.
