This story originally appeared on AirlineGeeks.com
Boeing dismantled its global diversity, equity and inclusion department on Thursday, according to a report by Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the matter.
The report stated that staff from Boeing’s DEI office will be combined with another human resources team focused on talent and employee experience. Sara Bowen, Boeing’s vice president leading the DEI department, also announced her resignation from the company on LinkedIn Thursday.
“Today I turn in my blue badge,” Bowen said in her LinkedIn post. “It has been the privilege of my lifetime to lead Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Boeing company these past 5+ years. Our team strived every day to support the evolving brilliance and creativity of our workforce. The team achieved so much – sometimes imperfectly, never easily – and dreamed of doing much more still. All of it has been worth it.”
The DEI department is the latest staffing cuts within the company as 17,000 jobs are reportedly on the chopping block for layoffs by early next year.
AirlineGeeks has reached out to Boeing for comment.
New contract vote
The move comes as striking members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) are scheduled to vote on a new contract offer Monday. Over 33,000 IAM members have been on strike at Boeing locations in Washington, Oregon and California since Sept. 13.
According to a news release from IAM, the new contract proposal would deliver a 38% wage increase over four years and a $12,000 ratification bonus. It would also reinstate Boeing’s Aerospace Machinists Performance Program (AMPP) incentive plan with a guaranteed minimum annual payout of 4% for both 2024 and February 2025.
Additionally, the contract includes a 401(k) employer match of 100% up to 8%, a special company retirement contribution of 4% into 401(k) and a $105 pension multiplier per year for those vested in the pension plan.
The union rejected a previous contract from Boeing after putting it to a vote last week, though sentiment may now be growing toward accepting the newest offer. IAM District 751 posted an endorsement of the newest offer on X/Twitter, calling for members to approve the new contract.
“Your Union is endorsing and recommending the latest IAM/Boeing Contract Proposal,” IAM District 751 posted. “It is time for our Members to lock in these gains and confidently declare victory. We believe asking members to stay on strike longer wouldn’t be right as we have achieved so much success.”
IAM District 751 President Jon Holden and IAM District W24 President Brandon Bryant issued the following joint statement in a news release from the union:
“The resolve and solidarity of IAM members at Boeing has spurred a new offer from the company that if ratified will enable workers to quickly make up significant ground financially while setting a new standard for the industry on wages and other key protections – including key wins on job security, safety, health care costs, retirement, bonus pay, and more,” they said.
IAM International President Brian Bryant said a contract like this would send an inspiring message to all workers in the U.S. who are seeking to join unions.
“Nearly every worker in America knows what it’s like for a company to take too much and give too little,” Bryant said in the release. In securing this agreement, IAM Union members have won an opportunity to ratify a contract that would set a new standard for their industry.”
Voting is slated to close at 10 p.m. EDT on Monday, with vote totals expected to be announced afterward.