9.9.2024

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Boeing's Labor Deal

Boeing and its largest union reached a deal yesterday to avoid an end-of-the-week strike. If approved, the agreement would raise the company's 33,000 production workers' pay by at least 25% over four years.

The deal—Boeing's first with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers since 2008—falls short of the 40% raise the union had called for. In practice, however, wages will increase by an average of 33% due to seniority increases. A majority of union members must vote to approve the deal for the contract to be ratified. The agreement comes as Boeing's production has slowed in recent months amid quality concerns, particularly over its 737 Max jets.

Separately, Boeing's uncrewed Starliner landed without incident in New Mexico on Saturday amid concerns over its thrusters. The future of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft—and the company's partnership with NASA—remain unclear amid disagreements over the Starliner's readiness to return two astronauts to Earth. See previous write-up here.

Line Fire Burns in SoCal

Over 11,000 people in Southern California are under evacuation orders after the Line Fire grew to over 17,400 acres. By Sunday afternoon, flames had advanced to densely populated areas. No deaths had been reported as of this writing, with fire officials saying the blaze remained at zero containment. See current status and maps.

The blaze began Thursday and was accelerated by an intense heat wave, with temperatures in the triple digits and humidity in the low teens in inland areas like San Bernardino. Conditions are expected to persist at least through today. 

Some reported seeing pyrocumulus clouds in the area—a sign the fire was intense enough to create its own micro-weather system. The phenomenon occurs when heat from burning vegetation rapidly rises into a cooler atmosphere, causing clouds, turbulent winds, and in some cases, lightning. 

Venezuela's Opposition Exit

Venezuela's former opposition candidate Edmundo González fled to Spain yesterday after being granted asylum. The departure comes days after a Venezuelan judge issued an arrest warrant for González related to the contested presidential election.

At the center of the dispute are thousands of voting tally sheets obtained by opposition volunteers. Incumbent President Nicolás Maduro declared victory hours after the July 28 election but did not publish district-level voter data. The opposition party collected and published copies of what it said were close to 80% of the tally sheets indicating González won the election by a large margin—a claim backed by the US. In response, a court considered by critics to be loyal to Maduro said the opposition faked their tallies, charging González with falsifying documents and conspiracy, among other crimes. 

González's departure appears likely to dampen weeks of protests resulting in the detention of over 2,400 people. The opposition party says González still intends to attend a swearing-in ceremony in January, maintaining he is the next president.

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