Boeing, Co. machinists ratify four-year contract

Boeing Co. machinists ratified a landmark four-year contract on Wednesday. The contract, ratified by 74 percent of those casting ballots, places production of the 737 MAX in Renton, Wash. It also continues fabrication work for the Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX in other Puget Sound facilities and Portland, Oregon.

The deal will likely end the contentious dispute between the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Boeing over the company's decision to relocate its production of the 787 Dreamliner from Washington to South Carolina. In April 2011, the NLRB filed suit against Boeing alleging its choice to establish a plant in South Carolina (a right to work state) was in retaliation for union activity in its Washington plants. As we reported earlier, the NLRB’s attempt to block Boeing’s business decision has grabbed national headlines and sparked interest from Congress and Presidential candidates.