Boeing machinists vote on new contract and possible strike

EVERETT, Wash. — Boeing’s largest union, more than 30,000 members strong, made their voices heard Thursday as they voted on a new contract and whether or not to strike.

“A lot of people trying to come in and make their voices heard,” Mike Corsetti, a quality inspector and union steward, said. He told KING 5 that thousands have been coming by the Kasch Park voting site to cast their ballots.

“I hope everybody votes to reject this contract,” Patrick Casey, a mechanic, said. He said he’s voting to strike because he wants Boeing to reinstate its pension. He’s one of thousands of workers who have been rallying and marching all week during lunch breaks. 

“I’ve got the speaker going because we’ve been doing rallies in the buildings at lunchtime and I got no voice left,” he said. Corsetti said the deal Boeing is currently offering is a good start, but it’s not enough.

“We have members still living in their cars at maxed-out pay because they cannot afford to live in this state and work at this company,” Corsetti said. Months ago, the union demanded a 40% pay raise over the course of the contract. However, Boeing countered and is offering a 25% increase. Those numbers translate to about a 9% overall increase over the course of the contract.

“Boeing is portraying to the media that it’s the greatest thing they’ve ever done and it’s not,” Paul Janousek, another Boeing employee, said. He told KING 5 he voted no to the contract and yes to strike.

“That’s the concerning thing about it,” he said. “I’m just emotional because my daughter still lives at home and she makes more than I do and she went to college right so she’ll step in for my wife and I but that’s not going to make me sign ‘yes’.”

KING 5 reached out to Boeing and was directed to a letter sent to employees by the CEO, which stated a strike would put the company’s shared recovery in jeopardy.