Rep. Smith Sends Letter Urging Contract Negotiations Between Boeing and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash), alongside Representative Rick Larsen (D-Wash), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash), sent a letter to Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg, IAM District W24 President Brandon Bryant, and IAM District 751 President Joe Holden urging further contract negotiations between their organizations.

See the full letter below.

Dear Mr. Ortberg, Mr. Holden, and Mr. Bryant:

We are writing about the contract negotiations between the Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (1AM) Districts 751 and W24. With the machinist strike now lasting well over a month, and with no further talks currently scheduled, we urge you to redouble your efforts to reach a mutually beneficial resolution.

With over 42,000 single-aisle and wide body commercial aircraft projected to be manufactured over the next twenty years, valued at $8 trillion, now is the time to rebuild the historic partnership between management and workers in order to restore Boeing's reputation for engineering and manufacturing excellence. This will require investing in next generation manufacturing techniques, innovative new materials, and providing workers with wages and benefits that acknowledge the essential and irreplaceable work they perform for the Company.

1AM 751 and W24 represent a vital workforce in the Pacific Northwest and for nearly a century have made it possible for Boeing to produce aircraft that fly millions of passengers each day, connecting communities and economies around the world. With these contributions in mind, we hope you will expeditiously work out a fair and durable deal that recognizes the importance of the machinist workforce to Boeing's future, the aerospace economy of the Pacific Northwest, and the nation.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, we look forward to your timely response.

A full copy of the letter can be found at the link above.