### Boeing Workers' Strike Enters Third Week Amid Stalled Union Contract Negotiations

SEATTLE - As the Boeing workers' strike extends into its third week, no new union contract has yet been presented for a vote. On Friday, representatives from the machinists' union and Boeing met in federal mediation but failed to reach an agreement.

Jeremy Kim, an interior mechanic for Boeing, has been off the job for over two weeks. "I'm getting paid less than a McDonald's employee," Kim lamented, noting that his starting wage of $18 an hour is insufficient to cover living costs like rent, food, and gas. Kim emphasized the importance of proper compensation for the critical work he performs, stating, "If they want the quality that they want and the speed that they want it, we should be paid for that."

The striking Boeing employees have garnered support from other local unions such as the Everett Education Association and the UNISERV Council. Jared Kink, president of the Everett Education Association, underscored the broader impact of the machinists' strike, saying, “Them having a good contract helps our economy and helps kids be more successful in school if their parents are getting paid a decent wage that they deserve.”

UNISERV Council President Justin Fox-Bailey echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the implications of the strike extend beyond the workers themselves. "We want to make sure that workers are getting their share, their families, they're doing this for their families," he said.

U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen and Suzan DelBene, who represent the region, met with the striking workers. Larsen pointed out the deep-rooted tensions that have persisted for over a decade, suggesting that this history should inform current negotiations. "The workers didn't even bring it to a vote because they knew it wouldn't pass," he said, emphasizing the workers' strong negotiating position.

Economists estimate that the strike has cost Boeing workers and shareholders over a billion dollars in just two weeks, and there is no clear resolution in sight. Rep. Suzan DelBene stressed the necessity of a fair contract, noting, "It's critically important that we have a contract that's fair, that the workers deserve and that builds going to be strong long into the future."

Reflecting on his role at Boeing, Kim concluded, "I take good pride in the work that I do at Boeing, and I should be compensated for that."