Machinists Likely To End 5-Week Strike At Aircraft Parts Maker With Tentative Contract

SPOKANE, WA—For the last five weeks, the International Association of Machinists has been striking at Triumph Composite Systems in Spokane.
Now, it appears the company and the union have reached an agreement that is likely to end the strike.
However, what the Machinists struck over appears to have not been resolved in the tentative agreement.

The Machinists wanted better pensions and to eliminate a two-tiered wage system that took effect in 2013. Workers hired after May of that year are paid less than co-workers hired previously. Some aren’t eligible for the union’s pension plan.
The new contract would shrink the pay gap and create a retirement savings plan similar to a 401K.

Triumph Composite makes floor panels, flight decks and control systems that are used in commercial airliners built by Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier.
Earlier this Spring, the company reported that it has been losing money—“a $1 billion loss and announced that it planned to consolidate operations to save money,” according to press reports.