More than 3,200 unionized machinists employed at Boeing defense facilities in the St. Louis, Missouri area and Mascoutah, Illinois went on strike at midnight after overwhelmingly rejecting the company’s revised four‑year contract proposal.
These workers, represented by IAM District 837, are responsible for assembling critical defense hardware including F‑15 and F/A‑18 fighter jets, the T‑7 trainer aircraft, and the MQ‑25 unmanned aerial refueling drone for the U.S. Navy, underscoring the strategic importance of their roles in national defense production.
Boeing had offered what it described as the “richest contract” ever put forward to its St. Louis defense workforce, promising average wage growth of 40%, a general wage increase of 20%, a $5,000 ratification bonus, improved vacation and sick leave, and enhanced periodic raises.
Despite these incentives, union members rejected the offer as inadequate, particularly citing dissatisfaction with alternative work schedule provisions that remained unchanged.
Union leadership asserted that District 837 machinists deserve compensation and working conditions that properly reflect their expertise and contribution to national defense.
Boeing Air Dominance vice president Dan Gillian expressed disappointment over the rejection and confirmed that contingency plans were already in place to maintain operations amid the walkout.
He emphasized that the company is ready to deploy non‑union personnel to help meet customer commitments and mitigate disruption from the work stoppage.
CEO Kelly Ortberg downplayed the impact, pointing to Boeing’s ability to weather last year’s much larger industrial action when 33,000 machinists struck for 53 days and the company ultimately negotiated a contract with 38% wage growth.
The current strike represents Boeing’s first walkout in nearly 30 years at the St. Louis defense hub, with the last similar strike occurring in 1996 and lasting 99 days
The timing is particularly fraught as Boeing’s defense division accounting for nearly 30% of its second‑quarter revenue had recently turned profitable after incurring significant losses in prior years.
Rising production pressures follow Boeing’s award of the next‑generation F‑47 fighter program, further raising the stakes for continued manufacturing capacity and workforce stability.
Financial markets have taken note of the labor unrest, with Boeing shares slipping slightly amid investor caution. Still, the company’s stock remains up significantly in 2025, and leadership remains confident that flight schedules and defense deliveries can continue despite the strike.
Union leaders are urging Boeing to return to negotiations with proposals that address long-standing issues around compensation, scheduling, and job security.
The standoff now sets the stage for a critical labor showdown, with both sides under pressure to reach an agreement that supports national defense production while acknowledging the economic contributions of frontline machinists.
Written By Ian Maleve
