As they enter their second week of strike action, there is no indication that a resolution with Boeing management is imminent.
We questioned picket line workers outside the Auburn, Washington, Boeing pla
nt about why they believe going on strike is their only option.
The news met with a number of strikers who gave their reasons for walking out as the loss of their pensions and bonuses, along with the expense of living and inflation.
Davon Smith, 37, works as an attaching wing technician on Boeing 777X aircraft, which sell for more than $28 (£21) per hour.
That helps me out a little bit, that’s what the part-time security work does for me,” he remarks.
His fiancée makes more money than he does as a secretary for Seattle schools.
Smith, who has just been employed by Boeing for a year, claims that his salary is insufficient to reflect the level of safety that goes into making sure the aircraft don’t crash.
He expresses anxiety that if his task is done incorrectly, he might face criminal charges.
We essentially risk our lives each and every time we build a jet to meet their specifications. We obviously get [jail] time for it if anything goes wrong, like if a torque is out of specification or whatever, and the plane might crash.
