The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) has filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board against The Boeing Company. The charge alleges that Boeing has refused to bargain in good faith with over 3,200 IAM District 837 members who have been on strike since August 4 at facilities in the St. Louis area.
According to the IAM Union, Boeing has rejected several union proposals since mid-September without making any counter offers. The union states that this behavior violates the company’s legal obligation under the National Labor Relations Act to negotiate in good faith. On September 19, IAM members passed a pre-ratified offer aimed at ending the strike and returning workers to their jobs, but Boeing did not respond with a new proposal.
Boeing reportedly told the union that “there is no more coming” and “no matter how long the strike lasts, the economics won’t change.” The IAM claims these statements show a refusal to negotiate and says Boeing’s actions are delaying deliveries of aircraft to the U.S. Air Force. Attempts by Boeing to hire replacement workers have not met the necessary skill requirements for building advanced military jets and weapons systems.
The ongoing labor dispute follows Boeing’s recent acquisition of the F-47 contract, a major U.S. defense program. The union notes that while Boeing benefits from government contracts, it is not investing sufficiently in its workforce. The IAM says its proposal would cost Boeing about $50 million over four years, compared to the $100 million price tag of a single F-15 fighter jet.
“These men and women have decades of skill, experience, and dedication,” said IAM Union Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “Boeing’s CEO is paid tens of millions of dollars, while the workers who build our military jets are being told to settle for less than they deserve. That’s unacceptable — and people on both sides of the aisle in Congress are taking notice. Lawmakers from both parties have called on Boeing to negotiate in good faith, because this strike and the company’s refusal to bargain are hurting our national defense.”
“IAM Union members put forward a fair, responsible proposal that would have ended this strike,” said IAM Union Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. “Boeing’s refusal to even respond with an improved offer is an insult to every worker who builds this nation’s defense aircraft — and to the taxpayers footing the bill for the company’s delays. And let’s be clear: it’s our IAM Union members, not corporate executives or union officials, who will ultimately decide their future. That’s what democracy in our union looks like.”
“This strike is about respect and fairness,” said IAM District 837 Directing Business Representative Tom Boelling. “Our members are standing up for their families, their future, and for fair treatment at the bargaining table. Boeing’s delays are hurting its own production, putting critical defense contracts at risk, and showing that you can’t replace skilled union labor with untrained temps. The company needs to come back to the table now.”
The IAM Union represents about 600,000 active and retired members in various industries across North America.
