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The first two days of mediated talks between representatives from Boeing and its striking International Association of Machinists (IAM) employees offered little encouragement that the walkout will be short-lived, increasing the likelihood that near-term financial ramifications will be significant.
“Unfortunately, mediation concluded today without reaching any resolution,” the IAM negotiating team said in a statement late Sept. 18. “No meaningful progress was made during today’s talks.”
No further talks were scheduled, the statement added.
News of the continued impasse comes as Boeing ramps up a sweeping cost-cutting plan that includes rolling one-week furloughs for thousands of employees across the company.
A Sept. 18 message to employees from CEO Kelly Ortberg said the company will “prioritize ... all activities critical to our safety, quality, customer support and key certification programs ... including 787 production.” It does not say, however, that those areas will be unaffected by the furloughs.
Employees represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) cannot be required to take unpaid time off per the terms of their current contract.
Boeing asked SPEEA to include its unionized engineers and technical workers in the furloughs along with other affected work groups, the union said late Sept. 19. SPEEA's seven-member executive board unanimously rejected the company's request.
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