Five members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have called on Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg to negotiate in good faith with more than 3,200 striking members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 in St. Louis. The workers have been on strike for three months.
The letter, led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), urges Boeing to reach a fair agreement that recognizes the value of IAM District 837 members while ensuring Boeing can meet its obligations to the U.S. military.
In their message to Ortberg, the senators wrote: “bring this strike to an end with an expedited resolution of the negotiation and 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 raised concerns about Boeing’s decision to replace striking workers with permanent replacements, warning this could impact product quality, safety, and national security. They stated: “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. 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 action from Senate Armed Services Committee members follows a similar call from 17 bipartisan House Armed Services Committee members urging Boeing back to negotiations.
According to IAM Union estimates, there is an $8 million difference over four years between their latest proposal—which they say was rejected without counteroffer—and Boeing’s most recent five-year offer. Meanwhile, Boeing has provided $100 million in severance packages for former CEOs, reported $23 billion in third-quarter revenue, and holds a $76 billion defense backlog.
IAM District 837 workers are responsible for building key military aircraft including the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and future F-47 fighter jets.
IAM International President Brian Bryant commented: “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,” adding: “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.”
Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have also expressed support during a Senate HELP Committee hearing where an IAM District 837 member testified about alleged bad-faith tactics by Boeing. Additionally, Representatives Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), and others from Congress have joined calls for fair bargaining.
IAM Union represents approximately 600,000 active and retired workers across North America in various industries including aerospace and defense.
