Wichita Machinists went on strike for a better Spirit contract. Will Boeing honor it?

After six days of picketing in the sweltering June heat, Wichita Machinists locked in a new contract with Spirit AeroSystems last summer guaranteeing wage increases and eliminating mandatory overtime work on weekends.

Now, with the news that Boeing has reached a $8.3 billion deal to reacquire Spirit and take over operations at the Wichita plant, it remains to be seen whether the favorable terms of that 2023 contract will be honored through its expiration date in 2027.

“We don’t know about that,” Spirit spokesperson Joe Buccino said Monday when asked if Wichita workers can expect their pay and benefits to remain consistent during the transition to new ownership.

“We can’t really predict what’s going to happen post-transition but we know that for the next year or so as we continue to operate as an independent company, there’s no anticipated changes,” Buccino said.

The contract, which guarantees a 20% wage increase over four years, also preserved prescription drug coverage that would have been scaled back if Machinists accepted Spirit’s earlier offer. Machinists voted to go on strike rather than accept those terms.

Ultimately, it will be up to Boeing to determine how the contract is handled, Buccino said. In an email response, Boeing spokesperson Connor Greenwood declined to say how the company plans to proceed on that front.

“We’ll defer to Spirit. As noted in our news release, the transaction is expected to close mid-2025,” said Greenwood, who did not respond to follow-up questions.

Spirit, Boeing and an employment contract

Spirit, spun off from Boeing in a cost-cutting move 19 years ago, remains the city’s largest employer. Spirit’s Wichita workforce consisted of roughly 12,000 employees before 310 were laid off last month due to production slowdowns brought on by persistent quality control issues.

Lisa Whitley, the new president of the Wichita Machinists union, released a statement Monday calling on Boeing to “honor its commitment to fair labor practices, job retention, and the protection of workers’ rights”.

“Our union stands united in ensuring that this acquisition does not undermine the hard-earned gains of our members,” the statement reads.

In a phone call last week, Whitley told The Eagle she was still trying to figure out how the employment contract would be handled in a buyback scenario.

“That’s what we’re all wondering,” Whitley said.

“That’s why I tell everybody no comment, just because I don’t know anything that anybody else doesn’t know other than what the news reports.”

Before the 2023 contract was ratified, Wichita Machinists had been working under the same contract for the previous 13 years.

IAM to focus on workers’ contractual rights

In a statement Monday afternoon, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said its focus will be on ensuring “that our members’ contractual rights are enforced throughout this process.”

“The IAM is carefully evaluating Boeing’s acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems and will continue to work with management on implementing policies to improve manufacturing processes and standards, as well as put our members’ interests at the forefront,” the statement reads.

“The IAM is currently engaged in contract negotiations for more than 32,000 members at Boeing in the Puget Sound, as well as providing members the assistance and resources they need to overcome the challenge of the recent workforce reduction at Spirit’s Wichita manufacturing facility.”

Mayor Lily Wu and the six members of the Wichita City Council did not respond to requests for comment Monday on news of the buyback and how they would like to see Boeing handle the contract with its Wichita workforce after taking over Spirit’s operations.

Buccino, the Spirit spokesperson, said there will be no disruption in production during the transition to new ownership.

“There’s no change to the way we operate until the transaction closes. We still need the entire organization focused on providing the best quality products for customers and focusing on safety and quality management, and that’s going to continue,” he said.