SEATTLE — After 53 days on the picket lines, Boeing machinists are returning to work after the union voted to approve the company's latest contract offer.
Some workers returned to work Wednesday, but the latest employees can return to work is Nov. 12. Aviation consultant, Scott Hamilton said even though the strike is over, it does not mean the airplane manufacturer will start cranking out orders right away.
“There has to be a certain amount of retraining to recertify the employees, they’ve been off work for almost two months and they have to get their knowledge refreshed, they have to demonstrate to the FAA that they can safely build airplanes again," Hamilton said.
Hamilton said the impacts of the strike aren't the only thing hindering production. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has capped the number of 737 MAX aircraft Boeing can produce to 38 per month. The cap came after a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
“First off, they have to get up to that cap, demonstrate to the FAA that they are qualified to go beyond that cap and the pre-MAX grounding rate in March of 2019 was 52 a month," Hamilton said.
Hamilton estimated the company will not get back to producing 50 aircraft a month for at least a decade.
“The FAA oversight is a huge factor, the distrust that the FAA has over Boeing’s safety and quality control systems, Boeing has to convince the FAA they’ve solved those issues which they were supposed to have dealt with in the 2020 timeframe," Hamilton said.
The FAA maintained its enhanced on-site presence at each Boeing factory throughout the strike and will further strengthen and target our oversight as the company begins its return-to-work plan," the FAA said in a statement. During a call this week with the Boeing CEO, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stressed the importance of Boeing leveraging its Safety Management System as it resumes production."
Boeing's third-quarter results showed a bleak financial picture with the company in high debt but the thousands of aircraft ordered show signs of hope.
“I have no doubt that they will not be going into bankruptcy as some have speculated but it’s going to be a long slog to get them out of this hole they’re in," Hamilton said.
In October Boeing announced it would lay off 10% of its workforce. The notices for those layoffs are expected to go out next week. The company said those impacted will leave on Jan. 17.