Boeing and the Union Reach a Tentative Agreement to End Contentious Battle Over Cross-Country Relocation

The controversial battle between Boeing and the machinists union that has grabbed national attention appears to be coming to an end. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers announced that the parties have agreed to a contract extension (subject to ratification) which would resolve the pending NLRB suit. The tentative deal will extend the collective bargaining agreement by four years which will ensure that Boeing's operations remain in Washington state.

This battle began in 2009 when Boeing made the decision to relocate its production of the 787 Dreamliner plane from Washington to South Carolina. In April 2011, the NLRB filed an unfair labor practice suit against Boeing alleging that Boeing chose South Carolina based upon its right-to-work law in retaliation for various strikes by the unionized workers in Washington plants which delayed production of the 787 Dreamliner. The NLRB's attempt to block Boeing's business decision has grabbed national headlines and sparked interest from Congress and Presidential candidates.

The tentative agreement, if ratified, will run through September 2016.