Boeing F-15 Workers Go on Strike After Rejecting Latest Pay Deal

Boeing defence workers in Missouri and Illinois are starting a strike on Monday after rejecting the company's latest pay and pension offer. The walkout involves 3,000 staff who build F-15 fighter jets and other military aircraft. The union demands greater respect and job security. Boeing, already under pressure, said it will manage the impact of the strike. The strike is the first at the operation since 1996.

More than 3,200 Boeing defense workers at facilities in Missouri and Illinois are set to begin a strike on Monday, August 4, following the rejection of the company's latest contract offer. The strike, led by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), involves workers at Boeing's St. Louis, St. Charles, and Mascoutah plants, where F-15 fighter jets and other military aircraft are produced [1].

The union, which represents roughly 600,000 members in the aerospace and defense industries, rejected Boeing's offer, which included a 40% average wage growth over four years, improved work schedules, and enhanced pension provisions [2]. The union cited the need for greater respect and job security, stating that the offered contract did not fully address their concerns.

This strike is the first at Boeing's defense business since 1996, when a similar work stoppage lasted for more than three months [1]. The union's decision to strike comes after a series of crises have plagued Boeing, including two fatal crashes of Boeing 737 Max planes in 2018 and 2019, and a recent crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flown by Air India in June 2024 [2].

Boeing, which has been struggling to turn around its reputation and financial performance, has stated that it is prepared for the strike and has a contingency plan in place to continue operations with non-union staff. The company's CEO, Kelly Ortberg, downplayed the impact of the strike, noting that it is "much, much less" than the seven-week strike by about 30,000 workers at its passenger jet business last year [2].

The strike is expected to directly impact the production of the F-47 fighter jet, part of the Next Generation Air Dominance program designed to replace the F-22 Raptor. Boeing won this critical contract earlier this year, and the company is expanding its St. Louis manufacturing facilities to accommodate the sixth-generation fighter program [3].

The union has implemented a seven-day "cooling off" period following the contract's expiration, delaying strike action until August 4. This procedural step is standard in labor negotiations to provide additional time for potential last-minute agreements [3].

References:
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gze2medkdo
[2] https://www.businessinsider.com/thousands-boeing-workers-make-f-16-fa-18-fighters-strike-2025-8
[3] https://www.newsweek.com/boeing-strike-begins-monday-after-negotiations-fail-2108254