The number of striking workers skyrocketed in 2023, what does that mean for Boeing machinists?
33,000 Boeing factory workers walked off the job Friday, demanding higher wages and for the company to restore pensions. Most are based here in the Pacific Northwest.
The overall labor landscape in the U.S. has changed significantly since the last machinists strike 2008 – nationally, union membership remains at historically low levels, but work stoppages have increased in recent years and the number of striking workers skyrocketed in 2023.The UAW strike late last year won historic concessions for auto workers across the country.
Guests:
Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory
Rebecca Givan, Associate Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University
Relevant Links:
Seattle Times: Boeing Machinists reject contract as 96% vote to strike
AP: Boeing machinists vote to strike after rejecting pay increases of 25% over 4 years
New York Times: Boeing’s Strike Halts Airplane Production at Key Plants
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Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
Libby Denkmann joined KUOW in December 2021 as the host of the midday show Soundside. She’s a native Pacific Northwesterner who grew up in Redmond, graduated from the University of Washington, and covered local news as a producer and reporter with KIRO Radio.
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Hans Anderson
Producer, Soundside
Hans Anderson is a producer on KUOW’s Soundside, where he covers a diverse range of topics from conflicts over how to use busy streets to how the open spaces of the Palouse inspire modern musical compositions. He primarily produces segments about politics, arts and transportation.
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