Biden Concerned Over Boeing Locking Out Its Union Firefighters After Contract Negotiations Fail

The president is encouraging Boeing to ’return to the table' and strike a deal that is mutually beneficial to the company and its firefighters.

President Joe Biden speaks to members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) at the UAW National Training Center, in Warren, Mich., on Feb. 1, 2024. Mandel Ngan / AFP

President Joe Biden said on May 9 that he is “concerned” that Boeing recently locked out its private force of unionized firefighters around Seattle, Washington.

The company announced this move on May 4, locking out almost 130 members of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local I-66 who have rejected two of Boeing’s contract offers regarding wages. That group of firefighters protect Boeing’s aircraft manufacturing plants in the Seattle area.