Boeing's new proposal may lead to $1 bln in wage-related costs over four years
Oct 21 (Reuters) -Boeing BA.N is expected to book more than $1 billion in wage-related expenses from its proposed labor contract, analysts said, although its shares rose 4% on Monday on hopes of an endto a crippling strike.
About 33,000 workers will vote on the contract proposal on Wednesday after a more than month-longwork stoppage, which hashalted production of models including its best-selling 737 MAX narrowbody jets.
The vote also coincides with Boeing's third-quarter results, in which it is expected to report a hefty loss.
"We view the proposal as a positive step," Ben Tsocanos, aerospace director at ratings agency S&P Global, said in an email to Reuters.
"Resolving the strike quickly is key to improving the company's financial position and supporting the rating."
The new contract proposal announced on Saturday includes a 35% pay hike over four years, a $7,000 ratification bonus, a reinstated incentive plan and enhanced contributions to workers' 401(k) retirement plans, including a one-time $5,000 contribution plus up to 12% in employer contributions.
The new wage increase and the ratification bonus are an improvement over the previous offer, which was rebuffed by the striking workers, but the salary hikes still fall short of a 40% pay rise over four years demanded by the Machinists' union.
"But will the members accept? We can't say for sure, though it does seem to offer nearly all the union asked for," J.P. Morgan analyst Seth Seifman wrote in a note.
Seifman estimated the wage hikes might increase Boeing's costs by more than $1 billion, while Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu expects wage-related expenses at about $1.3 billion.
The agreement was reached after weeks of sometimes acrimonious discussions between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union, whose leadership faced fury from some members after endorsing the first offer from Boeing that most workers opposed.
As talks made little progress and rating agencies warned of a downgrade, Boeing announced plans to raise up to $25 billion through stock and debt offerings and a $10 billion credit agreement with major lenders.
However, even if the new contract is accepted by members, the planemaker still faces the challenge of quickly restoring production to pre-strike levels once workers return.
"Based on our analysis of prior Boeing strikes, it has taken an average of 6-12 months after the conclusion of the strike for production rates to return to pre-strike levels. Moreover, the impact the strike has had on the already fragile supply chain is uncertain," RBC Capital Markets analysts said.
The work stoppage has halted production of Boeing's cash-cow 737 MAX, and 767 and 777 widebodies.
Boeing shares were trading at $161 in U.S. premarket trading. If that level holds in regular trading, Boeing shares would be at their highest since Sept. 12, the day before the strike began.
In a separate labor action, about 5,000 workers were set to return to work at business jet maker Textron's facilities in Wichita, Kansas, after voting to accept a five-year contract providing wage increases of 31%.
Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva
免责声明: XM Group仅提供在线交易平台的执行服务和访问权限，并允许个人查看和/或使用网站或网站所提供的内容，但无意进行任何更改或扩展，也不会更改或扩展其服务和访问权限。所有访问和使用权限，将受下列条款与条例约束：(i) 条款与条例；(ii) 风险提示；以及(iii) 完整免责声明。请注意，网站所提供的所有讯息，仅限一般资讯用途。此外，XM所有在线交易平台的内容并不构成，也不能被用于任何未经授权的金融市场交易邀约和/或邀请。金融市场交易对于您的投资资本含有重大风险。
所有在线交易平台所发布的资料，仅适用于教育/资讯类用途，不包含也不应被视为用于金融、投资税或交易相关咨询和建议，或是交易价格纪录，或是任何金融商品或非应邀途径的金融相关优惠的交易邀约或邀请。
本网站上由XM和第三方供应商所提供的所有内容，包括意见、新闻、研究、分析、价格、其他资讯和第三方网站链接，皆保持不变，并作为一般市场评论所提供，而非投资性建议。所有在线交易平台所发布的资料，仅适用于教育/资讯类用途，不包含也不应被视为适用于金融、投资税或交易相关咨询和建议，或是交易价格纪录，或是任何金融商品或非应邀途径的金融相关优惠的交易邀约或邀请。请确保您已阅读并完全理解，XM非独立投资研究提示和风险提示相关资讯，更多详情请点击 这里。
