Boeing Defense Workers Rally Congress

Missouri Defense Workers Rally for Congressional Backing

August 4 marked the start of a strike by Boeing’s defense division in Missouri, spurred by a contract proposal the union deemed unsatisfactory. The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers District 837, representing about 3,200 machinists, has halted production at Boeing plants in St. Louis, St. Charles, Missouri and Mascoutah, Illinois.

Union Demands

• Living‑Wage Compensation – a pay scale that keeps pace with inflation.
• Seniority & Expertise Respect – a contract that honors the years of service and experience of each worker.
• Re‑Bargaining Commitment – a plea for Boeing to re‑enter negotiations with fresh proposals.

Boeing’s Offer

Boeing counters with 40% average wage increases and enhanced vacation and sick‑leave benefits. The company frames the proposal as a “landmark” agreement and expresses readiness to consider any constructive union input.

Production Impact

Works at the affected sites produce key defense assets, including:

• F‑15 & F‑18 combat aircraft
• T‑7 Red Hawk Advanced Pilot Training System
• MQ‑25 unmanned aircraft

Political Appeal

In letters to Missouri’s congressional delegation, the union, led by IAM International President Brian Bryant, urges lawmakers to pressure Boeing into “promptly return to the bargaining table with new ideas.” The letters emphasize the workforce’s critical role in national defense and the necessity of fair compensation.

Context

the strike follows a significant Boeing contention in the Pacific Northwest last fall, where 33,000 workers halted commercial plane assembly, and Boeing executives characterize the St. Louis stoppage as “manageable.”