Blow for aircraft manufacturers: a strike at Spirit AeroSystems

2023-06-23 07:00:00

bad news for Boeing but also Airbus : the employees of the American subcontractor voted for the strike, refusing management’s collective bargaining proposals. The production shutdown began at midnight.

Manufacturer among others of fuselage du 737 MAXSpirit AeroSystems announced on June 21, 2023 the refusal of the approximately 6,000 union members IAM (International Association of Machinists and Aeronautical Workers) at Wichita, Kansas, for management’s “best and final offer” for the next four years. The proposal for the next four years was rejected by 85% of voters, who represented 79% of the supplier’s workforce, with the union pointing out that after the Covid-19 pandemic which had ” everything stopped, the company’s proposal was unacceptable “. No duration of the movement is advanced.

According to local press, the offer included a 16% salary increase over four years, “up to an average salary increase of 34%” over this period, with adjustments to the cost of living and a guaranteed annual bonus. . A 14.7% increase in pension benefits, and an agreement to end compulsory overtime on Sundays, were also planned.

Immediate consequence: production has stopped this Friday morning shortly after midnight, even if the equipment manufacturer had asked employees on Thursday not to show up before the official start of the strike (while being paid yesterday).

Boeing will obviously be the first victim of this strike, especially if it lasts, Spirit AeroSystems being the first supplier of fuselages for the 737 (already struggling with production problems) and also being involved in the program 787 (the American aircraft manufacturer represents 67% of its turnover). But it is not alone: with production sites in the United Kingdom, France, Malaysia or Morocco, the equipment manufacturer is also used by Airbus (19% of turnover) for example for A220as well as Bombardier for its CRJs.

« We know that nobody wins in a work stoppage; however, we respect the rights of our represented employees said Spirit AeroSystems management in a statement. ” Despite this setback, we are not distracted from the task at hand. We look forward to continued meetings with IAM management ».

A brand new Ryanair @Ryanair @BoeingAirplanes 737-8-200 #737MAX LN8683 at Boeing’s Renton Factory @FlyRenton pic.twitter.com/yHDxu2lzWP

— BXTS (@BXTS_CS) June 22, 2023