Boeing Defense Workers in St. Louis Go on Strike for First Time in Decades.

Boeing machinists in St. Louis go on strike for the first time since the mid-1990s, rejecting a contract offer with a 20% wage increase and $5,000 bonus. The strike involves 3,200 workers who build fighter jets and munitions. The union last went on strike in 1996 when it was part of McDonnell Douglas, which merged with Boeing. The strike is a challenge for Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who is trying to revive the company's fortunes after significant financial losses and safety issues.

Boeing machinists in St. Louis have gone on strike for the first time since the mid-1990s, rejecting a contract offer with a 20% wage increase and a $5,000 bonus. The strike, which began on Monday, involves 3,200 workers who assemble fighter jets and munitions at Boeing's facilities in St. Louis and surrounding areas.

The International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 837, representing the striking workers, cited the need for a contract that better reflects the skill and dedication of their members, as well as the critical role they play in national defense. The union's business representative, Tom Boelling, stated that the workers "deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation’s defense" [1].

Boeing's latest offer, which was rejected by the union, included a 20% general wage increase over four years, a $5,000 ratification bonus, and more time off. The offer would have brought the average annual pay from $75,000 to $102,600, costing Boeing about $70 million, including bonuses [4]. The union had previously rejected a similar offer in July, leading to a seven-day cooling-off period.

The strike is a challenge for Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who is trying to revive the company's fortunes after significant financial losses and safety issues. Boeing's defense division has been expanding operations in the St. Louis region to support the production of the U.S. Air Force's new F-47 fighter jet, which is expected to replace the aging F-22 Raptor [3].

Boeing has implemented a contingency plan to ensure that non-striking workers can continue supporting their customers during the strike. The company has stated that it is prepared for the work stoppage and has fully implemented its contingency plan [2].

This strike marks the second labor dispute for Boeing in less than a year, following a strike by Local 751 machinists in September 2024. That dispute ended with a fourth offer in November, which included a 38% wage hike and a $12,000 ratification bonus [4].

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/03/boeing-st-louis-strike
[2] https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/08/04/business-boeing-strike-defense-workers-missouri-illinois/5371754312069/
[3] https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/3200-boeing-workers-go-strike-2-states
[4] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/boeing-hit-strike-union-rejects-144236822.html