SEATTLE (AP) 鈥� Boeing has withdrawn a contract offer that would have given striking workers 30% raises over four years after talks broke down.
The manufacturer said that it had boosted its offer for union workers for take-home pay and retirement benefits during two days of negotiations.
鈥淯nfortunately, the union did not seriously consider our proposals. Instead, the union made non-negotiable demands far in excess of what can be accepted if we are to remain competitive as a business,鈥� Boeing said in a prepared statement. 鈥淕iven that position, further negotiations do not make sense at this point and our offer has been withdrawn.鈥�
The union said that it surveyed its members after receiving Boeing's most recent offer, and it was rejected overwhelmingly.
鈥淵our negotiating committee attempted to address multiple priorities that could have led to an offer we could bring to a vote, but the company wasn鈥檛 willing to move in our direction,鈥� the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 751 said in a message to members.
The union that Boeing had publicized its latest offer to 33,000 striking workers without first bargaining with union negotiators.
The offer was more generous than the one that was when the workers went on strike Sept. 13. The first proposal included 25% raises. The union originally demanded 40% over three years. Boeing said average annual pay for machinists would rise from $75,608 now to $111,155 at the end of the four-year contract.
The union represents factory workers who assemble some of the
The strike is stretching on as Boeing deals with . It has shut down production of 737s, 777s and 767s. Work on 787s continues with nonunion workers in South Carolina.
Shares of Boeing Co., which is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, fell early 2% before the opening bell Wednesday and the stock is down 41% this year.
The Associated Press
