More than 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 have been on strike at Boeing’s St. Louis-area defense plants for over three months. Five members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), have sent a letter to Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg urging the company to negotiate in good faith with the union.
The letter, also signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), calls for an expedited resolution that would end the strike. The senators wrote, “bring this strike to an end with an expedited resolution of the negotiation and the successful ratification of a proposal that pays IAM Union District 837 members what they are worth while ensuring that Boeing is able to fulfill its mission and ensure that the men and women of our military have what they need.”
The senators expressed concern about Boeing’s decision to use permanent replacement workers during the strike. They warned this move could negatively affect product quality, safety, and national security. The letter stated: “If you choose to proceed with replacement workers to complete these projects, you will be sacrificing the needs of the U.S. military in order to benefit the corporation’s bottom line. Rather than proceeding down this dangerous path, we urge you to rededicate yourself to meeting the needs of your current workers, who are a fount of experience, knowledge and professionalism. Now is the time to make a deal. Our military’s effectiveness and our country’s national security depends on it.”
This Senate intervention follows a similar effort from 17 bipartisan House Armed Services Committee members who also called on Boeing to return to negotiations.
According to IAM Union estimates, their latest contract proposal would cost approximately $8 million more over four years compared with Boeing’s most recent five-year offer. In contrast, Boeing has provided $100 million in severance packages for former CEOs and reported $23 billion in third-quarter revenue while maintaining a $76 billion backlog in defense contracts.
IAM District 837 members are responsible for building key military aircraft including the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and future F-47 fighter jets.
Brian Bryant, International President of IAM Union said: “We are deeply grateful to the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee for standing up for our members in St. Louis and demanding accountability from Boeing. The Senators recognize that our members’ skill, dedication, and experience are vital to our national security. Their call for Boeing to negotiate in good faith sends a powerful message that protecting America’s military readiness begins with respecting the people who build it.”
Additional support has come from U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), as well as Representatives Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), and members of the Congressional Labor Caucus.
IAM Union states it continues presenting reasonable contract offers intended both to end the dispute and maintain a skilled workforce necessary for fulfilling defense obligations.
The IAM Union represents around 600,000 active and retired workers across multiple industries throughout North America.
