In demanding an eight-year contract (Boeing calls it an "extension," but it's not an extension) that would have essentially frozen pay while slashing health care benefits and eliminating pensions, Boeing had essentially asked the International Association of Machinists Local 751 to commit suicide. Tonight, by a two to one vote, the rank and file Machinists told Boeing to go fuck itself:

“Today, the democratic process worked and our members made the decision to not accept the company’s proposal. It is my belief that we represent the best aerospace workforce in the world and hope that as a result of this vote Boeing will not discard our skills when looking to place the 777X.

“We preserved something sacred by rejecting the Boeing proposal. We’ve held on to our pensions and that’s big. At a time when financial planners are talking about a ‘retirement crisis’ in America, we have preserved a tool that will help our members retire with more comfort and dignity."

Boeing claims that despite its huge sunken investment in manufacturing facilities here, and the Puget Sound's highly skilled workforce, it has "no choice" but to look elsewhere to build the 777X. What a crock of shit. If Boeing was serious about building planes here it would have negotiated a compromise extension instead of demanding an unconditional surrender from the IAM.

This is about breaking the unions, and nothing else. Fuck Boeing.