More than 3,000 Boeing defense workers went on strike early Monday, demanding better pay, improved pensions, and stable work schedules. The strike which began at midnight affected Boeing’s military aircraft operations in Missouri and Illinois including the production of F-15 fighter jets.
Union members, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), rejected Boeing’s latest contract proposal over the weekend. The offer included what the company described as a 40% average increase in wages. “We’re disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth,” said Dan Gillian, vice president of Boeing’s Air Dominance unit, in a written statement.
Workers at Boeing’s St. Louis defense facility, where the union has a strong presence, led the walkout. The IAM said its members had reached a breaking point. “3,200 highly-skilled IAM union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough,” the union stated in a post on X. “This is about respect and dignity, not empty promises.”
This is the first strike at Boeing’s defense division since 1996 when a strikes lasted more than three months. Boeing’s leadership however, sought to downplay the potential fallout. “I wouldn’t worry too much about the implications of the strike,” Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told reporters last week. “We’ll manage our way through that.” Ortberg noted the walkout is smaller than last year’s passenger aircraft strike, which involved 30,000 workers and cost the firm billions of dollars.
Boeing has struggled to recover from a series of crises in recent years. The company suffered two deadly crashes involving its 737 MAX planes in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people. Recently a cabin panel detached mid-air from a 737 MAX in January 2024 drawing public scrutiny of BOEING safety guidelines and safety measures.
The worker strike comes as Boeing’s production rates remain far below pre-pandemic levels. The company delivered just 348 aircraft in 2024, the lowest output since COVID-19 disrupted global travel. Workers say they want long-term commitments that reflect their contribution to national defense and their role in the company’s recovery.
Boeing has not confirmed if the strike will delay deliveries of military aircraft but analysts predict the risk of prolonged disruption could mount if talks remain deadlocked. Negotiations between Boeing and the union have not yet produced a revised contract. IAM has not announced when another vote might take place.
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