Boeing union members strike for first time in 16 years after rejecting contract

Thirty-three thousand union members at Boeing walked off the job Friday after they overwhelmingly rejected a four-year contract.

Leadership at the International Association of Machinists union had described the rejected deal as one of the “best” it’s ever negotiated with Boeing, saying it would have given raises of at least 25% over four years. The union also said it would increase job security for union members because Boeing promised to build its next commercial jet, which has not yet been announced, at a unionized factory.