Over 30,000 Boeing Co. workers are set to go on strike starting Friday after employees at the company’s West Coast factories voted overwhelmingly in favor of the walkout, demanding higher pay.
The strike is scheduled to begin at midnight Pacific time (0700 GMT), marking Boeing’s first major labor stoppage since 2008.
This strike adds another significant challenge for Boeing, which has been grappling with a series of quality issues and reputational damage. The company has faced renewed scrutiny following several incidents this year, including a door panel blowing off a 737 MAX jet in January and a failure with its Starliner spacecraft, which stranded two astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
The walkout also poses a critical test for Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, who was appointed in August with the task of restoring the planemaker's reputation. Ortberg is now tasked with navigating the company through yet another crisis.
Boeing’s last strike in 2008 cost the company an estimated $1.3 billion due to production delays and increased wages, a potential concern as the company works to address ongoing production issues and regain consumer trust.
