About 400 union machinists at Triumph Composite Systems, an aerospace supplier in Spokane, are preparing to go on strike tonight after their contract expires.
Lynne Warne, a spokeswoman for Triumph, said the facility will keep operating by using a combination of salaried employees and contractors.
Triumph supplies components for airplane interiors to Boeing and other aerospace companies. The workers are represented by District Lodge 751 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Ninety-four percent of the workers rejected the company’s contract offer and 93 percent voted to strike. Jon Holden, president of District 751, said workers wanted the company to improve retirement benefits for new employees.
"We have a pension system that excludes new hires, and it was very important for the group to have pay and benefits that were equal," Holden said. "In fact, their theme was `One Equal Team — 2016.'"
Holden said employees are also unhappy with a two-tier wage scale the company put in place a few years ago. At that time, Holden said a large majority of workers rejected the company's contract offer but not enough of them voted to go on strike, so the contract went into effect.
Triumph said in a statement that its offer was fair and included wage increases and lump sum payments. The company said it’s disappointed by the workers’ decision to strike.
A Boeing spokeswoman said the company does not expect any impact on its production.
