About 3,200 Boeing Defense workers are striking three plants as of August 4, having rejected a modified contract proposal. The workers are members of the same union that struck Boeing Commercial Airplanes in September and October 2024 – the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. An initial proposal was submitted to the local union members on July 27, and voted down.
The four-year agreement offered by Boeing included a 20% general wage increase and $5,000 signing bonus for every worker. According to the manufacturer, the wage increase and the value of other benefits gained by that offer would result in compensation increases of about 40%, according to one analyst.
“IAM District 837 members have spoken loud and clear,” stated Tom Boelling, a local union official. “They deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation’s defense”
Boeing Defense vice president and general manager Dan Gillian expressed disappointment at the contract rejection and strike, but stated: “We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers.”
The three Boeing Defense operations in St. Louis and St. Charles, Mo., and Mascoutah, Ill., assemble fighter aircraft including the F-15 and F/A-18, and other missile and defense systems. These plants have not seen a strike action since 1996. That outage lasted 99 days.
