Union leaders and lawmakers on Monday strongly criticized Boeing for locking out its unionized firefighters and urged the company to reach a fair contract agreement. 

Boeing Locks Out 130 Members of IAFF

According to Reuters, this comes after Boeing locked out about 130 International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local I-66 members who disagreed with two contract offers earlier this month.

During a rally outside Boeing's headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, IAFF President Edward Kelly, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) President Liz Shuler, and Representative Val Hoyle called on the company to negotiate a fair contract.

Reuters reported that Kelly expressed the union's desire for a fair deal, claiming that Boeing wants firefighters to work nearly 20 years before reaching top pay but remains hopeful that talks will soon resume.

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Lawmakers Criticizes Boeing's Firefighter Lockout

Val Hoyle expressed hope that Boeing will prioritize safety and invest in their workforce by returning to the negotiating table. Democratic Senator John Fetterman also took to social media to emphasize the importance of retaining critical safety workers and offering dignified wages, especially in light of Boeing's recent safety and quality control issues.

Boeing stated that its contract offer, which includes an increase in firefighters' average take-home pay from $91,000 to $112,000 in the first year, is still available.

Boeing urged the union to allow employees to vote on the offer, which was introduced before the lockout. After workers rejected the pay offer, Boeing locked out its firefighters and hired replacements on May 4. 

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