• Source:JND
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Boeing strike 2025: More than 3,200 Boeing union members in the St. Louis region are poised to strike at midnight Monday, the first time there has been a walkout at the defence plants of the aerospace giant since 1996. The employees, members of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837, strongly rejected the company's revised contract offer Sunday, leading to a complete labor stoppage at plants making key defense aircraft and weapons.

Strike To Halt Boeing's Fighter Jet Production?

Striking workers manufacture advanced fighter planes such as the F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and T-7 training planes. They also make missiles, bombs, and critical parts for the Boeing 777X commercial plane. The strike will escalate pressure on Boeing's defense and space unit, which generates about 30 per cent of the company's revenue. “This strike is about more than numbers. Our members are demanding a contract that values their contribution to national security,” said IAM District 837 President Tom Boelling. “They have spoken loud and clear—they deserve better,” he added.

Boeing's last offer was a 20 per cent pay raise throughout the course of the contract, raising the average yearly income for members of IAM 837 from USD 75,000 to USD 102,600. It also enhanced 401(k) matching and rid the union of a controversial shift-scheduling provision. The company had tied a USD 5,000 signing bonus to a Sunday night deadline, warning that the bonus would be permanently withdrawn if the deal wasn’t ratified by 11:59 PM. Workers still voted down the deal, leading to a collapse in last-minute negotiations. “We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce continues supporting our customers,” said Dan Gillian, Boeing Vice President and senior St. Louis site executive. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, during a July 29 earnings call, sought to minimize investor concerns. “The order of magnitude of this strike is much smaller than the Seattle walkout last fall,” he said. “We’ll manage our way through this,” he added.

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Aerospace Labor Tensions On Rise

The Boeing walkout is the latest addition to increasing worker unrest throughout the aerospace sector. In the early months of this year, Pratt & Whitney machinists conducted a three-week strike that caused worldwide engine shortages related to Airbus production. Boeing's own commercial plane lines were shut down for two months in late 2024 by another IAM-organized walkout in Seattle.

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This highlights an emerging wave of employee militancy in face of talent shortages, rising cost of living, and calls for fairer contracts in high-skill manufacturing.