Boeing Faces Union Showdown as Aerospace Activism Spurs St. Louis Strike

(ST. LOUIS) Boeing is confronting a union strike at its St. Louis-area factories after more than 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, IAM District 837, walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. on August 4, 2025. The action came hours after workers overwhelmingly rejected Boeing’s revised four-year contract proposal in an August 3 vote, following an earlier rejection on July 27. Talks are set to resume on August 25, 2025, with both sides saying they’re ready to keep working toward a deal as pressure builds over wages, benefits, and job security.

Boeing’s offer included a 20% general wage increase over four years, a 50 cents-per-hour raise for top-scale employees, and a higher pension multiplier. The company also removed a proposed alternative workweek schedule, a sticking point in earlier drafts. Union members said the latest package did not go far enough on vacation, sick leave, and health care. Boeing, for its part, says the proposal would deliver 40% average wage growth, calling it the richest deal ever offered to IAM 837.

Aerospace has seen growing labor action, and the St. Louis-area union strike reflects that tension. Workers point to inflation and rising living costs, and say newer hires in particular need a stronger path to stability.

“IAM District 837 members have spoken loud and clear, they deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation’s defense,” said Tom Boelling, IAM District 837 Directing Business Representative.

IAM International President Brian Bryant pledged ongoing support on the picket lines to “ensure Boeing hears the collective power of working people.”

Company operations and contingency measures

Boeing expressed disappointment with the vote outcome and said it is ready to bargain, while also moving to keep its Missouri operations open. The company has a contingency plan and a non-striking workforce in place.

Production continues on:
– Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs)
– MQ-25 ground testing
– T-7 flight tests
– Deliveries of completed 777X flight control surfaces

This activity underscores the wider stakes: these St. Louis-area sites support defense programs and advanced manufacturing that rely on experienced technicians whose work can’t be easily replaced.

Contract terms at issue

According to union leaders, pay, benefits, and job security remain the core concerns. Key details and positions include:

• Boeing’s proposal:
  • 20% general wage increase over four years
  • 50 cents-per-hour raise for top-scale employees
  • Pension multiplier: increased to $10 in the first year
  • Removal of an alternative workweek schedule proposal
• Union concerns:
  • Insufficient gains on vacation, sick leave, and health care
  • Need for clearer, faster wage steps and benefit ladders for newer hires
  • Emphasis on solidarity between veteran workers and recent hires

Boeing’s management maintains the offer addresses major concerns raised by IAM District 837, highlighting wage growth and scheduling changes as proof it listened. The company says it remains committed to reaching an agreement while managing operations safely.

This dispute echoes last year’s IAM District 751 strike in Seattle, which lasted seven weeks and resulted in a 38% wage increase. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, recent aerospace bargaining momentum has encouraged workers nationwide to push for stronger contracts, and observers are watching St. Louis for signals on where industry standards may land next.

Negotiations, deadlines, and benefits

The calendar matters. With talks due to restart on August 25, 2025, both sides face a looming deadline: if no new contract is in place by August 31, 2025, company-paid health care for striking employees and their families will end.

• Important deadlines and consequences:
  1. August 25, 2025 — Next negotiations scheduled
  2. August 31, 2025 — Company-paid health care ends if no contract
  3. After cutoff — COBRA continuation coverage available at the employees’ expense

Employees who need COBRA details can review official guidance at https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra. Note that company-paid life insurance also ends during the strike.

Boeing’s guidance states that employees on strike are not eligible for unemployment or sick leave benefits during the work stoppage. The union has been preparing members for those realities, organizing picket shifts and community support.

Strike logistics and member resources

Boeing provided instructions for handling company property and access during the strike:
– Remove personal items
– Keep badges and devices
– Return company-issued keys and tools
– Anyone choosing to cross the picket line must contact a manager for instructions

The union is coordinating strike assignments and can be reached for shift questions at 314-731-0603 ext 207.

For documentation requests during the dispute:
– Customized wage statements from Boeing: email [email protected]
– IAM District 837 updates: www.iam837.org
– IAM International information: www.goiam.org

Quick reference: key dates and terms

Community impact and bigger picture

This union strike has drawn local activists and labor groups to the picket lines, amplifying public attention to the dispute. Community turnout signals growing concern for the conditions of skilled tradespeople whose work supports national defense and commercial programs.

At the same time, Boeing’s decision to keep facilities running shows the company’s intent to limit production delays and maintain delivery schedules where possible.

Both sides face the same industry-wide challenge: matching complex, high-stakes manufacturing needs with pay and benefits that sustain a skilled workforce over time. For IAM District 837 members, the focus is on what they take home and the security they can count on when they’re off the clock. For Boeing, the mandate is to control costs while meeting customer needs across defense and commercial lines.

The outcome of the August 25 talks will shape the next phase. If progress comes quickly, health coverage may continue without interruption and production could ramp back up with experienced hands in place. If not, the end-of-month cutoff becomes the next hard line, and both workers and Boeing will face tougher choices. That timeline is now the center of gravity for a union strike that has already sent ripples through the region’s largest industrial employer and across an aerospace sector watching for the next benchmark contract.