Aerospace workers challenge planemakers over mandatory overtime

North American aerospace factory workers seeking to reduce mandatory overtime and lock in four-day work weeks are facing some pushback from planemakers trying to increase production to meet soaring demand for jets. Manufacturers have had to make some concessions due to a tight labor market after a wave of COVID-19-induced retirements, but the big planemakers are not receptive to certain demands. In aviation, improved work-life balance has joined higher pay as key demands from pilots to aircraft mechanics after hybrid work weeks emerged after the pandemic. But big scheduling changes on the factory floor could weigh on manufacturers' efforts to produce more commercial jets. Workers at Boeing currently in negotiations want to end mandatory weekend overtime, but that has emerged as a sticking point in the talks for nearly 33,000 unionized Boeing factory workers whose membership voted on Wednesday for a strike mandate, according to union officials. Boeing's largest union has said members are ready to vote on Sept. 12 to strike if needed. A labor disruption would hamper the U.S. planemaker's expected ramp-up of output of its strong-selling 737 MAX jet to around 38 a month by year-end. “We’ve made some good improvements in limiting the amount of designated overtime, but it's not good enough," said Jon Holden, president of the Seattle-area local union that represents workers on 737 MAX and other jets. Boeing said on average, fewer than 1% of its employees work mandatory weekend overtime. "We know our employees value their time outside of work," it added. Boeing's jet production has slowed sharply this year following increased scrutiny from regulators, airlines and lawmakers following a January incident when a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines ALK.N jetliner while in mid-air.<br/>