Boeing Machinists ‘forged a future’

With Machinists back on the Boeing shop floor, IAM District 751 reflects on the solidarity that sustained the strike and won a historic contract

from IAM District 751
November 21, 2024

The smell of the burn barrel. The taste of strike sandwiches shared on the line. The feel of the wood in your hand as you hold your picket sign high. The sound of cars honking in unwavering support. The sight of nearly 33,000 Machinists standing together in the fight of their lives. The overwhelming pride of knowing we were making history. These are the memories that will forever mark this chapter in our Union’s story.

For 53 days, the world watched as IAM Districts 751/W24 stood shoulder to shoulder, demanding what we rightfully deserved from a company built on the grit and determination of our Members. With news coverage that reached across the globe, the battle cry of workers echoed far and wide. Our fingerprints are on every part, every plane that leaves the factory and soars into the sky. The legacy of the Boeing Company is entwined with ours – there is no Boeing without the IAM.

Photos: IAM District 751 & WSLC

“This is a victory, and our Members should hold their heads high with immense pride in what they accomplished,” said IAM District 751 President Jon Holden. “Now it’s our duty to return to work and build the finest airplanes in the world, restoring this company to its former glory. Our Members take great pride in the products they create and want to see this company succeed with their contributions embedded in its future vision. This contract gave them exactly that – a foundation to build upon, strengthened by the resolve gained over these 53 days.”

The bargaining process was intense and relentless, a testament to the unwavering resolve on both sides. The negotiating team pushed to elevate each offer and present it to the Members. The first offer was met with overwhelming rejection, deemed insufficient by the Machinists. The second offer was never put to a vote after the company’s decision to release it to the press, a breach of trust and respect for our process. The third offer, though improved, still fell short of honoring our sacrifices. It was the fourth offer that passed with 59% approval.

Photo: IAM District 751

“Choosing to go on strike is never easy. It means risking everything,” said IAM District 751 SecretaryTreasurer Richard Jackson. “But our Members made that choice on September 12, 2024, standing firm for nearly two months. It was not without hardship; it was an emotional journey that forged deeper relationships and transformed others. But nothing worth achieving ever comes easy. Our Members didn’t waver. Their unity became the backbone of this strike, permeating every vote that we held. Today, I’m not just proud of the contract we secured, but I’m in awe of the resilience and spirit of the men and women who stood together.”

Though we did not secure everything we fought for, including the defined benefit pension plan, we made tremendous strides that cannot be understated. This contract is more than an agreement; it sets a standard that other Unions will aspire to achieve, aiming to gain or surpass at their own bargaining tables worldwide. In four years, we will rise again, determined to elevate industry standards and secure even greater victories for all workers.

Throughout our strike, we witnessed incredible acts of courage and solidarity. Members sharing stories over steaming cups of coffee by a smoky burn barrel. Union brothers and sisters supporting each other with donations and job leads. Young children visiting the line for the first time, and retirees recounting their experiences from strikes decades past. We saw members reaching out to guide those unfamiliar with the process, and watched new members find their voice as this fight grew beyond a contract. We marveled at family members taking over strike kitchens, serving up hot meals with love. We saw fear and uncertainty transform into unity and a shared passion for a better future.

We didn’t just survive this strike, we thrived. The full impact of our efforts has yet to unfold. It will take a while to see the pay increases making the lives of our Members and their families better. It’s going to take time to feel the benefits of reduced designated overtime, allowing Machinists to spend more time at home and less on the shop floor. It will be a minute before the significance of one set of progression sets in for the thousands who will benefit from this. Years will pass before we see the importance of having contract language for the next airplane program to be built right here. But all of that, and so much more, is coming because of what you did.

On September 12, 2024, when IAM 751/W24 members chose to put down their tools, withhold their labor, and stand shoulder to shoulder, they began writing the next chapter of our Union’s history. Our Members were ready to risk everything in the present to secure a future for those who will follow in our footsteps. Our legacy will be built on the strength and foundation of the contract ratified on November 4, 2024. We made history. We forged a future. And we will stand tall as we did this together.

This column originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of IAM District 751’s Aero Mechanic.