IAM District 837 members at Boeing Defense in the St. Louis area will vote Friday, September 19, on a union-proposed four-year contract that aims to resolve a strike involving about 3,200 workers. The proposal comes after more than six weeks of work stoppage and follows Boeing’s refusal to revise an earlier offer that was rejected by union members.
If the new offer is ratified by IAM Union members, it will be presented to Boeing as a pre-ratified agreement for their approval. Should Boeing decline the offer, union members plan to continue striking and remain prepared to return to negotiations. The strike will persist until an agreement is reached.
“Our members’ solidarity and determination are the reason we’ve been able to put forward this creative path to settlement,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “Boeing needs to recognize that this workforce is the backbone of its defense operations, and the community is standing with these families until they achieve a fair contract.”
The ongoing strike has caused interruptions in defense production at Boeing’s St. Louis facility and is reportedly costing the company millions each day due to lost output and delayed deliveries. This disruption occurs despite Boeing’s recent strong financial performance and an increasing backlog of military aircraft orders.
“IAM Union members have been critical to Boeing’s success — including the recent commitment to build the F-47 right here in St. Louis,” said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. “They build world-class military aircraft, they’ve helped deliver Boeing billions in defense contracts, and they’ve earned a contract that reflects that value.”
IAM District 837 workers are responsible for building several key military aircraft models such as the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and are slated for future work on the F-47 fighter jet. The union states its proposal would align 401(k) contributions with those offered to other Boeing employees, provide higher wage increases for top-of-scale workers, and include a ratification bonus similar to those received by other unionized or non-unionized staff at Boeing.
Voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Friday at St. Louis Music Park in Maryland Heights, Missouri; results are expected shortly after polls close.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents around 600,000 active and retired members across various industries in North America including aerospace, defense manufacturing, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad operations, transit systems, healthcare services, automotive production sectors within both United States and Canada.
