Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

Machinist union members at Textron Aviation rejected the company’s latest contract proposal Saturday and began a strike just after midnight this morning. The job action involves approximately 5,000 members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 774 District 70. Members voted to reject the contract by 81%. Strikers represent workers at Textron Aviation's east and west campuses, as well as service center, in Wichita and component manufacturing locations.
The local bargaining committee had recommended that members accept the company’s offer of a 26% wage hike over four years, including an immediate 11% increase (followed by 4% in 2025, 5% in 2026, and 6% in 2027); a guaranteed minimum $3,000 annual lump sum plus an annual bonus based on years of service (from $250 to $1,000); an increase in the employer matching contribution to employee 401(k) plans to 9%; a maximum 3% cap on health insurance premiums; a zero increase in no-deductible premiums through 2028; and an increased cost-of-living adjustment from $700 to $1,500 per year. The Textron Aviation strike comes 10 days after 33,000 machinists at Boeing walked off the job after rejecting a pay boost of 25% over four years.
In a prepared statement, Textron Aviation said it was “disappointed” in the vote, adding that while it was committed to continuing to work with the union, it “has prepared for this scenario to ensure the business continues to operate for customers.”
The company’s website directed customers to several different contacts for inquiries regarding deliveries, service, and parts. It advised, “All parts will be shipped directly to customers via shipping carriers. Textron Aviation parts distribution will not accept physical order pick-ups or drop-offs during the work stoppage.”
An analysis this morning by Jefferies estimated that the strike could disrupt 15 jet deliveries, reduce revenues by $300 million, and pinch profits by $35 million for each month it continues. The consultancy estimated that the rejected contract would have cost Textron $31 million in profits over its first two years. For the first six months of 2024, Textron Aviation posted a segment profit of $338 million on revenues of $2.663 billion. Backlog at the end of Q2 2024 was $7.5 billion. For 2023, Textron Aviation posted a net profit of $649 million on revenues of $5.373 billion.
The company last experienced a strike in 2008 when union members at its Hawker Beechcraft division walked off the job for 25 days. Textron acquired Hawker Beechcraft in 2014. When it was ratified, the current contract provided annual wage increases of 2% to 3% between 2020 and 2024. The company added a supplemental 4% wage increase in 2022.
AIN was not able to reach representatives for Textron or the union to ascertain the status of any future scheduled contract talks at press time.

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