U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has urged Boeing to return to negotiations with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, whose 3,200 members have been on strike in St. Louis for nine weeks.
In a letter dated October 1 addressed to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Sanders noted that the union’s contract proposal, approved by 90% of its members, could resolve the ongoing labor dispute immediately. He wrote, “What the Machinists in St. Louis are proposing is not radical. It is less generous than the contract you ratified last year with 32,000 Machinists in Washington state. If Boeing can afford to spend $68 billion on stock buybacks and provide golden parachutes worth over $100 million to former executives, it can afford to provide decent retirement benefits and fair wages to its workers.”
Sanders criticized Boeing for cutting health insurance for striking employees and pointed out disparities between executive compensation and line worker pay, with some workers earning as little as $18 per hour.
The letter follows a virtual town hall held by Sanders with IAM District 837 members on September 30, where they discussed issues such as pay equity and job security for families in St. Louis.
Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security division reported a second-quarter revenue of $6.6 billion for fiscal year 2025, reflecting a 10% increase compared to the previous year. The IAM District 837 membership has repeatedly rejected company offers that they say do not meet basic standards of fairness.
During Scott Mayer’s confirmation hearing for the National Labor Relations Board, Sanders questioned Mayer—Boeing’s chief labor counsel—regarding the company’s approach to labor relations.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant stated: “This strike is about more than wages. It’s about respect, fairness, and the future of good aerospace jobs, not only in St. Louis but across North America. Boeing must stop playing games with our members’ lives and present them with an offer that reflects their skillset, dedication, and sacrifices. Our members deserve respect and dignity for their contributions to building this company, as well as for their service in protecting our troops and nation.”
Negotiations between IAM District 837 and Boeing are ongoing with assistance from a federal mediator. According to union officials, IAM members have been prepared to negotiate since the beginning of the strike.
The walkout began on August 4 and has attracted growing support from elected officials, community organizations, and other labor leaders who emphasize the role IAM District 837 plays in producing military aircraft and defense systems.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents around 600,000 active and retired members across North America working in various sectors including aerospace, defense contracting, airlines, shipbuilding, railways, transit systems, healthcare services, automotive manufacturing, among others.
