Unions, lawmakers protest Boeing firefighter lockout

Union leaders and U.S. lawmakers on Monday criticized Boeing's lockout of its unionized firefighters and urged the planemaker to reach a contract deal. Earlier this month, Boeing locked out about 130 members of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local I-66 who rejected two contract offers - a move that last week drew the concern of President Joe Biden. At a rally outside Boeing headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, IAFF President Edward Kelly, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Representative Val Hoyle urged Boeing to make a deal. "We want to get a deal. We just want to be treated fairly," Kelly told Reuters, who said Boeing wants firefighters to work nearly 20 years before reaching top pay but added he is hopeful talks will soon resume. "If they can break us and set a pattern, that will then translate into the contract of the larger unions. That's where the real savings are." Hoyle, a Democrat, said she hopes Boeing will come to the table and "do the right thing. They prioritize safety and they invest in their workforce." On social media, Democratic Senator John Fetterman said Monday "Boeing should focus on keeping critical safety workers and paying dignified wages, particularly given their recent safety and quality control issues where these safety workers may be needed." Boeing, which did not immediately comment Monday, said last week its contract offer to increase firefighters' average take-home pay from $91,000 to $112,000 in the first year remains on the table.<br/>