IAM Union District 837 has responded to recent statements from Boeing regarding ongoing mediation efforts. The union disputes Boeing’s claim that both parties have been engaged in mediation “for several weeks,” clarifying that the last meeting involving the company and a federal mediator took place on September 29.
“While Boeing claims we’ve been engaged in mediation ‘for several weeks,’ that’s simply misleading. The last time we met with the company and the federal mediator was on Sept. 29. Since then, there have been no further mediation sessions.”
Following this meeting, IAM Union states it submitted a revised pre-ratification settlement offer through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). According to the union, Boeing rejected this proposal and instead presented its previously rejected five-year contract offer again, setting a specific deadline for acceptance. The union did not bring this offer back for another vote since it had already been turned down by members.
“Following that meeting, the union submitted a modified version of our pre-ratification settlement offer through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). Boeing rejected that proposal and instead re-issued the same five-year contract offer that had already been rejected by our membership. They made that same rejected offer contingent on acceptance by a specific deadline, but because it had previously been voted down, it was not brought back for another vote.”
The union emphasized its willingness to resume talks at short notice: “In good faith, we notified Boeing—through FMCS—that the union remains ready to return to mediation with just 24 hours’ notice. As of today, the company has not provided any dates of availability.”
“Our goal remains to reach a fair agreement that addresses the issues our members have clearly identified. We continue to stand ready to meet at any time to reach a resolution and end this strike.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 600,000 active and retired members working in sectors such as aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, rail, transit, healthcare, automotive, and others across North America.
