Source: AFP
Boeing’s new boss said Friday he is seeking to “restore” relations with a key union representing tens of thousands of its workers amid negotiations over a new labor contract.
“I met with the presidents of IAM 751 & W24 this week in Seattle for a productive conversation and opportunity to listen,” Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg wrote in a message to the aerospace giant’s 170,000-plus employees, a week after taking office.
“I shared with them my commitment to restore our relationship and reach a new contract where we can come together to build a strong future for our employees in the region,” Ortberg said in the message, shared with AFP , adding that contract negotiations were in the “final phase.”
The two local chapters of the International Union of Mechanical and Aerospace Workers represent approximately 33,000 Boeing employees.
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They are located in the Seattle area, home to factories for the company’s best-selling 737 and 777 aircraft.
The current 16-year deal expires at midnight on September 12. Union members voted on July 17 to approve the possibility of a strike if no deal is reached by then.
“Ortberg knows we can’t rewrite the past, but we can work on a path forward into the future,” IAM District 751’s bargaining committee said in a statement Thursday after the meeting.
“Boeing cannot rebuild the trust it destroyed over the past two decades unless it commits to securing these jobs right here, where they belong,” they added.
The union is demanding that Boeing build its next plane — expected in 2035 but not yet announced — in the region.
It also calls for a pay increase of at least 40 percent over three years, as well as better benefits, including health insurance and pensions.
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“While Ortberg may not be sitting at the negotiating table, his influence on the negotiation process is undeniable,” the commission said.
Ortberg, 64, took over as Boeing CEO on Aug. 8 from Dave Calhoun, who announced earlier this year that he was stepping down after four years at the helm of the aerospace giant following a series of quality control problems.
During his first week, Ortberg visited the 737 factory outside Seattle, toured major supplier Boeing Spirit Aerosystems and met with executives from airline customers, he said in his message.
Source: AFP
