Boeing Mechanic Wage Class Action Takes Off in Washington

A proposed class action lawsuit against Boeing alleges that the company underpaid thousands of Washington state mechanics and assembly workers by requiring off-the-clock work and failing to provide proper compensation for meal and rest breaks. The suit, brought by former employee Alexander Lara-Trespalacios, claims workers were not paid for time spent preparing for shifts, such as putting on protective gear, and were pressured to attend trainings or continue working during breaks. It also challenges Boeing’s time clock rounding practices, alleging they systematically reduced employees’ wages, including overtime.

The case, originally filed in state court and later removed to federal court, seeks to represent a class of over 30,000 current and former hourly workers in Washington. The plaintiff alleges violations of state wage laws, including failure to pay minimum wage, overtime, and all wages owed at termination. Boeing denies the allegations but acknowledged that the claims could exceed $5 million, meeting the threshold for federal jurisdiction under the Class Action Fairness Act.