Boeing locks out firefighters after failed contract negotiations

Boeing locked out its on-site firefighters at its Washington facilities early Saturday morning after contract negotiations with their union reached a standstill.

The lockout came after members of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local I-66 twice rejected Boeing contract offers in recent months and talks toward another offer broke down almost immediately Monday, the union said.

The Boeing firefighters are on hand for fueling and flights, do fire-prevention work and respond to accidents and emergencies at the company’s facilities, receiving about 200 calls each month, according to their union.

The union says Boeing’s latest contract offer includes “substandard wages” and requires firefighters to work 19 years before reaching their pay ceiling. Currently, other Boeing employees max out after five years of employment. The union also says its firefighters earn up to 30% less than those working at nearby fire departments.

Boeing said in a statement: “Despite extensive discussions through an impartial federal mediator, we did not reach an agreement with the union. We are disappointed the union chose not to even bring our offer to its members for one final vote. We have now locked out members of the bargaining unit and fully implemented our contingency plan with highly qualified firefighters performing the work of IAFF members.”

The lockout started at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, affecting about 130 Local I-66 members, said Matt Lowery, an IAFF strategic campaigns specialist. They’re normally stationed at sites in Auburn, Everett, Renton, Seattle and Moses Lake, according to the union.

“The people who work for Boeing are really dedicated. They believe in the company” and want to help it regain its reputation for safety, Lowery said. “So it’s too bad this is how it transpired.”

As of late Saturday afternoon, no new negotiations between Boeing and the union had been scheduled, he said.

The union says the lockout will negatively affect surrounding cities and counties, because local fire and emergency medical services will respond to any emergencies at Boeing facilities.

“The surrounding agencies are being told” by Boeing, “‘Hey, we might have somebody on-site but you’re still on the ball for all responses,'” Lowery said.

In a media fact sheet, Boeing said it expects no interruption of firefighting services at its facilities and will use non-IAFF firefighters to do the work. It said IAFF firefighters have always called on local departments during emergencies.

According to the fact sheet, the union’s proposed pay progression would result in the firefighters maxing out within six years of employment, which Boeing says is inconsistent with industry standards.

The company’s offer includes a new pay structure with an increase of $21,000 per year on average, according to the fact sheet. The average take-home pay of a Boeing firefighter in 2023 was $91,000, the company says.

Boeing said the union is asking for standards typically applied to local and municipal departments. It said the work being done by its firefighters is “completely different” and that its offer is similar to other industrial fire departments.

“The union is using standards that do not apply to this bargaining unit,” Boeing’s fact sheet said.

Casey Yeager, the Local I-66 president, said the firefighters deserve better compensation because the incidents they respond to are more dangerous than those faced by municipal departments. And if not contained quickly, Yeager said, they can “result in millions of dollars in damage to airplanes Boeing sells around the world.”