More than 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 in the St. Louis area have been on strike against Boeing for three months. Five members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have called on Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg to negotiate in good faith with the union.
The letter, led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), urges Boeing to resolve the dispute quickly. The senators wrote: “bring this strike to an end with an expedited resolution of the negotiation and the successful ratification of a proposal that pays IAM Union District 837 members what they are worth while ensuring that Boeing is able to fulfill its mission and ensure that the men and women of our military have what they need.”
They also criticized Boeing’s decision to use permanent replacement workers, stating: “If you choose to proceed with replacement workers to complete these projects, you will be sacrificing the needs of the U.S. military in order to benefit the corporation’s bottom line. Rather than proceeding down this dangerous path, we urge you to rededicate yourself to meeting the needs of your current workers, who are a fount of experience, knowledge and professionalism. Now is the time to make a deal. Our military’s effectiveness and our country’s national security depends on it.”
This follows similar pressure from a bipartisan group of 17 House Armed Services Committee members who urged Boeing to return to negotiations.
According to IAM estimates, their latest proposal would cost about $8 million more over four years compared with Boeing’s offer for a five-year contract. Meanwhile, Boeing reported $23 billion in third-quarter revenue and holds a $76 billion defense backlog.
IAM District 837 workers are responsible for building several key military aircraft including the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and future F-47 fighter jets.
Brian Bryant, IAM International President, said: “We are deeply grateful to the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee for standing up for our members in St. Louis and demanding accountability from Boeing. The Senators recognize that our members’ skill, dedication, and experience are vital to our national security. Their call for Boeing to negotiate in good faith sends a powerful message that protecting America’s military readiness begins with respecting the people who build it.”
Other lawmakers such as Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), as well as Representatives Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), and members of the Congressional Labor Caucus have also supported calls for fair bargaining.
IAM represents about 600,000 active and retired members across North America in various industries including aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive sectors throughout both United States and Canada.
