U.S. senators from both parties criticized Boeing for its approach to ongoing labor negotiations, as the strike by 3,200 members of IAM District 837 in St. Louis entered its twelfth week. The comments were made during a U.S. Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pension (HELP) Committee hearing where Josh Arnold, an IAM Union member and Boeing shop steward, testified.
Arnold was invited to speak by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). He described Boeing’s refusal to negotiate in good faith and emphasized the need for stronger protections for workers’ rights and collective bargaining.
“We are now entering the 12th week of our strike,” Arnold said. “Despite our strike, the company has not improved its offer one bit. In fact, they have backtracked and made it worse. We have now voted on and overwhelmingly rejected their offer three times. Still, company management refuses to return to the table to negotiate in good faith an offer that respects our skills, dedication, and value. The wage and retirement improvements we are seeking would cost Boeing merely half of the cost of one F-15 fighter jet over the next four years.”
The prolonged dispute has affected both working families and delayed important military aircraft orders needed by U.S. service members and allies. This week, Boeing presented another proposal that union members found unsatisfactory, despite a previous offer passed in September that could have ended the strike.
Senator Sanders commented on executive compensation at Boeing: “Boeing could afford to pay its CEO, Mr. Ortberg, $18 million in compensation for four months,” he said. “But apparently they just don’t have enough money to sit down with the union and negotiate a fair contract.”
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also expressed frustration: “This company is not giving you and your fellow Machinists what you deserve,” he said. “This is really unbelievable to me… We have more than 3,000 Missourians who have been loyal to this company for years… To me, it’s incredible that these people in the C-suite—who make unbelievable sums of money—won’t pay their workers well, but they pay their CEO and their executives more than ever before.”
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant praised Arnold’s testimony: “I want to thank Brother Josh Arnold, our IAM District 837 Bargaining Committee, and all of our members who continue to stand strong,” Bryant said. “It takes courage to stand up and speak truth to power. Josh represented our members, workers, and veterans with honesty and integrity—reminding the Senate and the country that America’s strength lies in the hands of working people, not corporate executives.”
Sam Cicinelli, General Vice President for IAM Union Midwest Territory added: “I’m proud of Brother Josh for standing up before the U.S. Senate and making sure the voices of our members were heard loud and clear,” he said. “We’re grateful to Senators Sanders, Hawley, Markey, and others who called out Boeing’s greed for what it is. Their support means a lot to our members, who are fighting not just for a contract, but for respect. This is what solidarity looks like—and we will not back down until Boeing does right by our members.”
