Seattle, WA

Boeing strike enters second month as workers rally in Seattle

Published

3 months ago

October 16, 2024

Boeing strike enters second month as workers rally in Seattle

SEATTLE — Boeing factory workers held a large rally in Seattle on Tuesday to demand a better wage deal, mounting pressure on new CEO Kelly Ortberg to end a bitter strike that has plunged the planemaker further into financial crisis.

Hundreds of striking workers packed the main hall at their union’s headquarters chanting “Pension! Pension! Pension!” and “One day longer, one day stronger!”

Outside, factory workers told Reuters that the recent 17,000 job cuts announced by the company would not deter them from continuing to fight for higher wages and an improved pensions.

Top Washington state Congressional Democrats added pressure on Boeing, calling on both sides to reach a mutually beneficial deal “providing workers with the wages and benefits that acknowledge the essential and irreplaceable work they perform for the company.”

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell on X published the letter to union and company leaders by her, Senator Patty Murray and Representatives Adam Smith and Rick Larsen.

Around 33,000 of Boeing’s unionized West Coast workers, most in Washington state, have been on strike since Sept. 13, demanding a 40% wage increase spread over four years and halting production of the planemaker’s best-selling 737 MAX and its 767 and 777 widebodies.

“We want Boeing management to know that we’re strong and united, and their scare tactics aren’t going to work,” said Matthew Wright, a 52-year-old electrician who works on the 767 jet. “We’re not afraid of them.”

A strike rally for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Seattle on Tuesday.Jason Redmond / AFP – Getty Images

The show of force comes as Boeing moves to give itself financial breathing space on Wall Street. It announced a window for up to $25 billion in stock and debt offerings over the next three years on Tuesday, as well as a $10 billion credit agreement. Boeing shares closed up 2.3% on Tuesday.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and Boeing leadership are locked in a paralyzing blame game over the strike, with both sides filing charges accusing the other of unfair labor practices during negotiations.

Boeing last week withdrew its latest offer, which included a 30% wage increase over four years, after talks also attended by federal mediators broke down.

Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su met with Boeing and the IAM in Seattle on Monday in a bid to break the deadlock, her first in-person intervention.

U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, whose district includes downtown Seattle, addressed the cheering crowd on Tuesday, criticizing Boeing and calling on Ortberg to end the strike.

“He has an opportunity to turn this around and to actually give you the contract that you deserve, so that we can get back to building quality planes, so that you can get back to doing your jobs, so that the United States of America can continue to have the most sophisticated, quality company in the Boeing company that it has ever had,” she said.

“Let’s make Seattle Boeing town again!”

‘NO PENSION, NO WRENCHING’

IAM members have been holding smaller picket lines in front of Boeing sites throughout the strike. In Seattle — where Boeing is among the top employers along with Microsoft and Amazon — striking workers on Tuesday carried placards that said “No Pension, No Wrenching” and “Kelly Ortberg, Pay it Forward.”

Local IAM leader Jon Holden, who is leading wage talks for the union, called on Ortberg to join negotiations in person.

“As the pressure mounts, as losses grow, it’s time he brought himself to the table do the hard work,” Holden said in the final speech at the rally on Tuesday afternoon.

In mid-November, Boeing will send out 60-day notices to employees being laid off. A second phase is planned in December if needed, industry sources said.

Boeing will refrain from asking for voluntary departures to limit severance cash and avoid an exodus of skills, sources said.

A Boeing spokesperson said on Monday the planned job cuts included both union and non-union workers, but striking IAM employees were not currently affected. Some staff in Boeing’s loss-making defense unit are also expected to be among those cut.

Investors and regulators have had Boeing under the microscope since a door panel flew off a near-new 737 MAX jet in midair in January.

Since then, the planemaker’s shares have dropped more than 40%.

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Seattle, WA

Who the Seattle Seahawks will be playing in the 2025 regular season

Published

4 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Who the Seattle Seahawks will be playing in the 2025 regular season

The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football to wrap up the NFC North and the No. 1 overall seed. It also means that the Vikings will not only be on the road as a 14-3 team playing in the Wild Card against the Los Angeles Rams next Monday night, but they’ll be returning to Lumen Field to play the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 regular season.

Game 272 was the final piece of the puzzle for the Seahawks’ 2025 opponents list. Whichever of the Vikings or Lions finished second in the NFC North would be headed to Seattle next season. While it would’ve been cool to see the Lions finally play at Lumen Field again after three straight Seahawks-Lions meetings in Detroit, it’s not happening.

The schedule is formulaic, which means the NFC West will play the whole of the AFC and NFC South, as well as the same-placed opposition from the NFC North (home), NFC East (away), and AFC North (away). Next season will be the AFC’s turn to get an extra home game, so the Seahawks will have nine away trips.

Home

Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

Arizona Cardinals (8-9)

San Francisco 49ers (6-11)

New Orleans Saints (5-12)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)

Indianapolis Colts (8-9)

Houston Texans (10-7)

Minnesota Vikings (14-3)

Away

Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

Arizona Cardinals (8-9)

San Francisco 49ers (6-11)

Tennessee Titans (3-14)

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)

Washington Commanders (12-5)

Atlanta Falcons (8-9)

Carolina Panthers (5-12)

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

The early returns on Michael Penix Jr and the late surge by Bryce Young could make the NFC South portion of the schedule much tougher than it looks right now. Never assume the league is so static that the teams that were good/bad now will remain the same the following season.

The NFL regular season schedule will be released at some point in May.

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Seattle, WA

Byron Murphy II Active as Seahawks Wrap Up Season at Rams

Published

11 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

Byron Murphy II Active as Seahawks Wrap Up Season at Rams

Despite missing practice time this week with a new back injury, after receiving a questionable designation on Friday, Seattle Seahawks rookie Byron Murphy II will be active for the team’s season finale against the Los Angeles Rams.

Selected out of Texas with the 16th overall pick in April’s NFL draft, Murphy will look to finish his first season with the Seahawks on a strong note. Going into Sunday’s finale, he has produced 34 combined tackles, half a sack, and 21 quarterback pressures, playing a key role in helping the team’s run defense improve over the course of the season and providing more of an impact than his general numbers may suggest.

After placing tackle Abraham Lucas and cornerback Josh Jobe on injured reserve on Saturday, Seattle had to deactivate several healthy players for Sunday’s final road contest due to the 46-man limit on game day. Among them, quarterback-turned-receiver John Rhys Plumlee won’t suit up for his NFL debut and receiver Cody White will also be held out as a scratch with Jake Bobo and Dareke Young being active as reserves behind starters DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

In addition, the Seahawks listed Jaren Hall as their emergency quarterback for the third straight game, and he would be eligible to play if Geno Smith and Sam Howell both suffered injuries and could not continue playing on Sunday. Tight end Tyler Mabry also won’t play after being signed back onto the 53-man roster this week.

On defense, with Murphy good to go after testing out the injury in pre-game warmups, Seattle deactivated defensive tackles Quinton Bohanna and Brandon Pili after elevating the former from the practice squad and signing the latter to the 53-man roster earlier in the week. Linebacker Patrick O’Connell also won’t suit up for the finale with special teams ace Josh Ross getting the nod instead behind starters Ernest Jones and Tyrice Knight.

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Seattle Seahawks Draft Position All But Decided Due To Winning Too Much

NFL Power Rankings: Where Are Seahawks Going Into Week 18?

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Seattle, WA

How to watch the Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams – NFL: Week 18 | Channel, stream, preview, predition

Published

19 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Press Room

How to watch the Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams – NFL: Week 18 | Channel, stream, preview, predition

INGLEWOOD, CA — On the final day of the 2024 NFL regular season, the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams look to keep their standing in the NFC when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Watch the NFL on FuboTV (7-day free trial)

Seattle Seahawks (9-7) vs. Los Angeles Rams (10-6)

When: Sunday, January 5
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Where: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
Channel: FOX
Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), DirecTV Stream, Sling

The Rams come into this game having already clinched the NFC West championship, their first division title since they won the Super Bowl three years ago. Matthew Stafford company got hot at the right time of the season, winning five straight games to outlast the rest in a jam-packed division race, clinching the title by beating the Arizona Cardinals last Saturday. With wins over the likes of the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, the team has confidence in its third playoff appearance in four years.

L.A. does have something to play for on Sunday. If they were to lose on Sunday, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were to beat the New Orleans Saints, the Rams would have to play the loser of the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings matchup on Sunday.

The Seahawks were expected, once again, to challenge for the division. However, inconsistency on offense and a defense that let the team down in key moments led them narrowly missing the playoffs for a second straight season. Back-to-back losses to the Green Bay Packers and Vikings ended up costing them their season.

The Rams won the first meeting against the Seahawks this season back in November and have beaten Seattle three straight times.

MY PICK: Rams win, 27-20