By David Shepardson
(Reuters) -Striking machinists at Boeing will vote Wednesday on a new contract proposal that includes a 35% pay hike over four years that could end a costly five-week-old strike, the company and union said Saturday.
Around 33,000 of Boeing’s unionized West Coast workers, most in Washington state, have been on strike since Sept. 13. The work stoppage has halted production of the planemaker’s best-selling 737 MAX and its 767 and 777 widebodies.
The latest offer includes a $7,000 ratification bonus, reinstated incentive plan and enhanced contributions to workers’ 401(k) retirement plans including a one-time $5,000 contribution plus up to 12% in employer contributions, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 751 said.
Boeing said Saturday it looks “forward to our employees voting on the negotiated proposal.” Still there is no guarantee workers will approve the proposal after they overwhelmingly rejected an initial proposal. “The future of this contract is in your hands,” the union told workers Saturday.