“It wasn’t enough for our members,” said Jon Holden, President of IAM District 751 announcing Wednesday evening that Machinists voted to reject the latest contract proposal and continue to strike Boeing. The workers rejected the contract by 64%, with the vote consistent across job sites, per the union.

After years of deep cuts to benefits, wage stagnation, and company disrespect, Machinists are sticking together for a stronger contract.

“There are consequences when a company mistreats its workers year after year,” said Holden and Brandon Bryant, President of IAM District W24 in a joint statement. “Workers across America know what it’s like for a company to take and take – and Boeing workers are saying they are fully and strongly committed to balancing that out by winning back more of what was taken from them by the company for more than a decade.”

Machinists have been on strike since September 13, when workers voted almost unanimously to reject a company offer and withhold their labor to fight for a better contract. As Holden spoke to media immediately following the vote, he noted some of the outstanding issues Machinists want to see addressed in a contract; a full 40% raise, more vacation and sick leave, and the return of the defined-benefit pension.

Boeing’s decision to strip workers of their pensions and refusal to return them remains at the heart of this strike for many. For others, their commitment to fighting for a pension is a testament to their solidarity with fellow Machinists who’ve been most harmed by losing it, said Holden.

When asked by a reporter if Machinists deserve a pension, Holden was unequivocal: “All workers deserve a defined-benefit pension. It’s one of the hallmarks of retirement security. It wasn’t right to take it away, and it is a righteous fight to try to win it back.”

Per the union, Boeing has so far refused to discuss a return of the pension and company and the workers remain far apart. That divide can only be bridged at the bargaining table, with meaningful engagement in negotiations. Boeing has already walked away from mediated discussion before, but the union is committed to bargaining and plans to reach out to the White House for more support from Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su, who was instrumental in bringing the two sides together for talks previously.

Pickets will continue at all locations as the union looks to get back to the table and continue negotiations.

“Ten years of holding workers back unfortunately cannot be undone quickly or easily,” said Holden and Bryant. “But we will continue to negotiate in good faith until we have made gains that workers feel adequately make up for what the company took from them in the past.”

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