the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Nov 11, 2024
Boeing workers have decided to end their strike and return to work. Their strike of nearly two months forced Boeing to give the workers more money in wages.
The Boeing workers, like all workers, had seen their standard of living steadily reduced, much of that due to inflation. The leaders of the IAM union (International Association of Machinists) had initially asked for a 40% raise over 4 years. Boeing had first offered 25%, but workers said NO. Later the company offered 35%, but the workers said NO again. Finally, Boeing offered a 38% raise and the majority of workers agreed to settle the strike.
But a sizeable number of Boeing workers did not agree, despite the union leaders pushing for a Yes vote. Forty-one percent of the Boeing workers voted NO. By their vote they said they were not satisfied and they were ready to continue the strike.
Many Boeing workers said they wanted to get back the pensions they had lost 10 years ago. Over those 10 years, Boeing had made huge profits and gave over 74 billion dollars to their rich stockholders, while Boeing workers without a pension were facing a less secure chance for a decent retirement.
Before the strike and during the strike, the Boeing bosses were adamant they were not going to agree to restore pensions. The Boeing owners are linked, financially and through many other ties, to the rest of the capitalist class, almost all of whom have taken away workers’ pensions.
The Boeing workers were adamant that they were ready to fight for what had been taken from them. But the Boeing workers were fighting alone. They were up against not just Boeing, but the whole capitalist class. In this situation, the Boeing workers did not have the way to gain what they wanted and deserved.
But their determination and willingness to fight was important. Their experience can show other workers that a bigger fight is needed, a fight that will draw in many other workers who face the same problems, a fight where workers use all their power as a class to go up against the capitalist class.
In the future, when other workers are ready to come together to make a fight, the Boeing workers, with the lessons of their determined strike, can play an important role.