U.S. airplane maker Boeing is facing another huge crisis. Around 33,000 of the company’s workers, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), overwhelmingly rejected a new labor deal and went on strike.
The workers were presented with two votes on Thursday; the first vote was whether to accept a new deal that would come with a 25% pay increase over four years, and the second one was whether to go on strike. IAMAW announced that 94.6% of those who voted were in favor of rejecting the deal, while 96% approved the strike.
As a result, workers in Boeing’s factories in Washington, Oregon, and California, have walked out of their jobs on Friday morning.
“This is about fighting for our future,” said union representative Jon Holden.
Boeing, on the other hand, is looking to quickly resolve the issue that will bring to a halt the production of the company’s most popular jets.
“The message was clear that the tentative agreement we reached with IAM leadership was not acceptable to the members. We remain committed to resetting our relationship with our employees and the union,” Boeing said in a statement.
The strike reflected badly Boeing’s shares, which dropped by 3.67% on Friday. The stock is currently 37.72% down year-to-date.