Boeing’s (Chicago) machinists rejected an eight-year labor contract extension yesterday that would have let Boeing build the company’s newest jetliner in Washington State. The IAM members voted down the extension by 67 percent. The extension would have secured an estimated 20 years of work building the proposed 777X. This vote may now permanently alter the relationship between Boeing and the Seattle area. The vote will now open a new opportunities for non-union areas like Charleston, South Carolina and other areas to build the new jetliner.

The driving issue for the union was the preservation of their pensions.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes quickly issued a statement from President and CEO Ray Conner after a long-term contract extension was voted down by the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers District 751.

“We are very disappointed in the outcome of the union vote. Our goal was two-fold: to enable the 777X and its new composite wing to be produced in Puget Sound and to create a competitive structure to ensure that we continue market-leading pay, health care and retirement benefits while preserving jobs and our industrial base here in the region. But without the terms of this contract extension, we’re left with no choice but to open the process competitively and pursue all options for the 777X.

I’d like to thank Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington state legislature for all their efforts in this process. We had hoped for a different outcome.”

Read the analysis by Reuters: CLICK HERE