Washington D.C., USA – Striking defense industry workers at Boeing are seeking support from congressional lawmakers in their efforts to pressure the aviation giant to improve its contract offer. The appeal, made in letters sent to the Missouri congressional delegation on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, describes Boeing’s latest proposal as “substandard.”
Some 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 have been on strike since August 4, following their rejection of a contract proposal. The strike affects Boeing facilities in St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri, as well as Mascoutah, Illinois. According to representatives from both the union and the company, no new talks have been held since the walkout began.
A letter signed by IAM International President Brian Bryant urged lawmakers to “join us in supporting this vitally important, highly skilled workforce” and “to urge the Boeing Company to promptly return to the bargaining table with new ideas and proposals in order to seek a fair and equitable settlement to this disagreement.” The union’s priorities include fair compensation, with wages that keep up with the cost of living, and a contract that “respects seniority and experience.”
The affected sites are critical to U.S. defense production, manufacturing key assets such as the F-15 and F-18 combat aircraft, the T-7 Red Hawk Advanced Pilot Training System, and the MQ-25 unmanned aircraft.
Boeing, for its part, has defended its offer, which it claims includes a 40% average wage increase over four years, as well as more vacation and sick leave. Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president, expressed surprise at the union’s stance, stating, “We’re surprised to hear the IAM International call our offer ‘substandard’ after hailing it as a ‘landmark’ agreement which they endorsed just three weeks ago.” He added, “We remain ready and willing to listen to any constructive proposals from the union.”
This strike comes less than a year after a separate, bruising strike in the Pacific Northwest last fall, where some 33,000 workers brought production of Boeing’s commercial planes to a halt. While Boeing executives have characterized the current St. Louis strike as more manageable due to its smaller size, the ongoing labor disputes highlight the company’s broader challenges with its workforce and production stability. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has downplayed the potential impact, noting that the company had prepared for a stoppage and implemented its contingency plan.
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