Virginia|Sept 06, 2025 |SKY LINK TIMES
More than 3,200 workers at Boeing’s defence plants in the St Louis region remain on strike, pushing the aerospace giant to announce plans for permanent replacements. The strike, which began on August 4, is the first at the company’s St Louis facilities since 1996 and involves members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837.
The employees, who build fighter jets, advanced aircraft, and weapons systems, rejected two proposed labour agreements that included a 40% wage increase over four years, improved benefits, pensions, and overtime provisions.
Boeing Moves Ahead with Contingency Plan
With negotiations stalled, Boeing has revealed it is moving forward with hiring replacement workers. Dan Gillian, Boeing’s vice president and senior executive in St Louis, said the company had “no choice but to ensure staffing levels” to keep up with customer needs.
Despite the strike, Boeing’s factories have remained operational with non-striking staff continuing to assemble, test, and deliver defence products. The company’s defence unit generated nearly $23 billion in revenue last year, underscoring its importance to Boeing’s overall operations.
To speed up hiring, Boeing has scheduled a job fair on September 16 and confirmed the positions are intended to permanently replace striking employees, not serve as temporary stopgaps.
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Union Pushback
Union leaders strongly criticised Boeing’s move, accusing the company of escalating the dispute instead of working toward a compromise.
Brian Bryant, IAM international president, said Boeing had walked back earlier offers, including a $5,000 signing bonus, which has become a major sticking point for workers.
On social media, IAM District 837 reiterated that minor adjustments to Boeing’s proposals would not be enough. “Boeing says they won’t do any better. IAM members in Saint Louis say we won’t accept that,” the union posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Broader Labour Context
Labour tensions are not new for Boeing. In 2022, around 33,000 Boeing workers in the Seattle area went on strike for nearly two months before securing a new contract. Analysts believe the current standoff reflects deeper struggles within Boeing’s workforce over pay, benefits, and conditions as the company tries to stabilise both its commercial and defence divisions.
With the strike entering its second month and Boeing accelerating its recruitment drive, the standoff shows no signs of resolution. Industry experts suggest the outcome will depend on whether Boeing successfully hires replacements—or whether mounting pressure forces both sides back to the bargaining table.
For now, the dispute highlights the growing wave of labour unrest across the U.S. defence and aerospace industries.
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