Boeing reaches tentative deal with workers to avert strike

Boeing reached a tentative deal on Sept 8 for a new contract with unions representing over 33,000 workers, a significant step towards avoiding a strike that threatened to shut down production when the existing agreement expires later this week.

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The proposal, which has yet to be voted on by workers, would be the first full agreement between the company and the unions in 16 years and would deliver pay rises of 25 per cent over the four-year life of the contract.

That falls short of the 40 per cent the unions had sought, but includes other victories, including improvements to healthcare and retirement benefits, and a promise to build the firm's next commercial airplane in the Seattle and Portland, Oregon, regions.

If approved, the deal would resolve one of the most pressing items on the agenda of Boeing's new chief executive Kelly Ortberg, who started a month ago.