Defense workers at Boeing begin labor strike, a move not seen since 1996.
Boeing St. Louis Defense Workers Go on Strike
As of early August 2025, approximately 3,200 Boeing machinists in the St. Louis area are on strike, marking the first walkout at Boeing’s St. Louis defense facilities since 1996. The workers, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, have rejected Boeing’s contract proposals, citing the need for improved wages, enhanced retirement benefits, and fairer work conditions.
The strike is significantly impacting Boeing’s production of critical missile systems and combat aircraft, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-15EX fighter jets, the MQ-25 unmanned refueling drone, the future F-47 sixth-generation fighter, and key munitions such as the Joint Direct Munition. These products are vital to U.S. national defense, and Boeing’s defense unit represents around 30% of its Q2 revenue, highlighting the financial and strategic importance of this workforce.
Boeing had revised its contract offer by removing unpopular alternative workweek proposals and improving retirement terms but did not increase wages beyond the initial offer, leading to the strike decision. Boeing has activated contingency plans to utilize non-striking workers to mitigate production delays but is facing challenges maintaining schedules for defense deliveries to the Pentagon, raising concerns over U.S. defense readiness.
Union members, led by Tom Boelling, the local union lead, and Brian Bryant, the union’s international president, have made it clear that they will be present on the picket lines to ensure Boeing hears the collective power of working people. Federal mediation could be involved if negotiations stall, but as of now, talks are ongoing without resolution.
The strike comes at a time when Boeing faces regulator pressure over safety concerns, with the pending strike in the Midwest adding to the company's challenges. Boeing's shares fell slightly to $221.40 in premarket trading early on Monday.
Last year, Boeing faced a larger machinist strike with around 33,000 workers in Washington factories walking off the job. That strike ended on Nov. 4, after workers agreed to a contract that secured a 38% raise over the next four years.
Former CEO Dave Calhoun announced in March 2024 that he would step down by the end of the year, with Kelly Ortberg succeeding him as CEO in August 2024 and calling for a "fundamental culture change in the company."
Sources:
[1] Forbes: Boeing St. Louis Machinists Go on Strike Over Contract Dispute [2] Bloomberg: Boeing St. Louis Defense Workers Reject Contract Offer, Go on Strike [3] Reuters: Boeing Defense Workers in St. Louis Go on Strike, Impacting Production of Key Military Products [4] Wall Street Journal: Boeing St. Louis Defense Strike Disrupts Production of Critical Military Products [5] CNN Business: Boeing St. Louis Defense Workers Walk Off the Job, Citing Unfair Contract Proposals
- The Boeing defense strike in St. Louis by IAMAW members is causing significant disruptions within the aerospace industry, as it targets Boeing's production of several critical military products, such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15EX fighter jets.
- The ongoing strike by Boeing workers not only affects Boeing's financial standing, as defense products constitute around 30% of its Q2 revenue, but also poses potential issues for U.S. national defense readiness and business relations in the finance and industry sectors.
