Five members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have called on Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg to negotiate in good faith with more than 3,200 striking members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 in St. Louis. The strike has now entered its third month.
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 recent decision to hire permanent replacements for striking workers, expressing concern about potential impacts on product quality, safety, and national security. The letter stated, “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 Senate action follows a similar move by 17 members of the House Armed Services Committee who previously urged Boeing to return to negotiations.
According to IAM Union estimates, there is an $8 million difference over four years between their latest proposal—rejected by Boeing without a counteroffer—and Boeing’s most recent five-year offer. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Boeing awarded $100 million in executive severance packages (“golden parachutes”), posted $23 billion in third-quarter revenue, and currently holds a $76 billion defense backlog.
IAM District 837 members work on key military aircraft including the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A trainer jet, MQ-25 drone tanker, and future F-47 fighter jet.
IAM International President Brian Bryant responded: “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.”
Additional support has come from Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), as well as Representatives Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), and others in Congress who have called for fair bargaining practices at Boeing.
IAM Union members have been picketing for over 13 weeks while continuing contract talks aimed at maintaining a skilled workforce capable of fulfilling military production requirements.
The IAM represents approximately 600,000 active and retired workers across various industries including aerospace and defense throughout North America.
