Boeing workers on strike in Gresham brace for possible temporary layoffs

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – Boeing is heading back to the bargaining table Tuesday as 1,200 machinists in the Gresham area remain on the picket line with the possibility of temporary layoffs on the horizon.

The machinists union, consisting of 33,000 workers in the Pacific Northwest, went on strike Friday after they rejected a tentative contract offer from the aircraft company that offered a 25% pay hike over four years.

Workers said they want Boeing to do better when it comes to retirement pensions, health care and job security. The strike is expected to shut down production of the company’s best-selling airplanes.

In response, Boeing said it is taking action by freezing hiring and looking into temporary furloughs to cut costs. This could mean trouble for workers without paychecks. Some workers in Gresham told KOIN 6 News they knew it would come to this and have been saving up money.

But the changes could also impact Boeing if the company is unable to fulfill purchase orders for planes or its stock takes a dive. So far, the strike means a halt to production of the 737 MAX and other planes. It could also affect parts suppliers.

Boeing shared the following statement:

“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, and we are ready to get back to the table to reach a new agreement.”

It is not clear how long this strike could last. A Boeing strike in 2008 lasted for two months.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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