More than three months into a strike by over 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 in St. Louis, five members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have called on Boeing to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.
The senators—Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)—addressed their concerns in a letter to Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg. They urged an expedited resolution that would lead to “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.”
The senators also criticized Boeing’s recent move to replace striking workers with permanent replacements. “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,” they wrote. “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 intervention from Senate committee members follows similar action from 17 members of the House Armed Services Committee, who recently signed a bipartisan letter urging Boeing to negotiate with IAM District 837.
According to IAM Union estimates, their latest contract proposal would add approximately $8 million in costs over four years compared with Boeing’s most recent offer for that period. The union highlights this difference as relatively small when set against figures such as $100 million distributed by Boeing in executive severance payments (“golden parachutes”), $23 billion reported in third-quarter revenue, and a defense backlog totaling $76 billion.
IAM District 837 employees build key military aircraft including the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and work on future projects like the F-47 fighter jet.
“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,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “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 U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who raised concerns about Boeing’s negotiating tactics during a Senate HELP Committee hearing where an IAM member testified about alleged bad-faith practices by management. Members of Congress including Reps. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), along with representatives from the Congressional Labor Caucus have also urged fair negotiations.
IAM Union officials state their proposals aim at maintaining a skilled workforce necessary for fulfilling military contracts while ensuring fair compensation for workers.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents around 600,000 active and retired workers across industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad transit, healthcare, automotive sectors throughout North America.
