More than 3,200 members of IAM District 837 remain on strike at Boeing Defense in the St. Louis area, as union and labor movement allies gathered for a rally to support their efforts. The strike began on August 4 after contract negotiations between the union and Boeing stalled.
The union has submitted a four-year contract proposal that was ratified by its membership, leaving it up to Boeing to decide whether to end the work stoppage.
At the rally, IAM International President Brian Bryant addressed Boeing directly: “I’m here to tell Boeing: you are not just fighting 3,200 workers. You are fighting 600,000 IAM Union members across North America,” said Bryant. “You are fighting millions more across the labor movement. And you are fighting a community that will never be broken!”
IAM District 837 members work on projects including the F-15 and F/A-18 fighter jets as well as advanced missile and defense systems considered important for U.S. national security. Labor leaders at the event argued that failure to reach an agreement impacts both worker livelihoods and military readiness.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler commented: “We’re seeing this everywhere, and it’s called corporate greed. These are attacks on our dignity,” said Shuler. “If Boeing can afford to give $100 million in golden parachutes to failed CEOs, then they can afford to pay your workers a fair share of the wealth we create.”
IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli emphasized unity among union members: “Every picket line, picket sign, and every hour we hold this line is a message to everyone in this country that – we will not be silenced, we will not be divided, and we will not back down!” Cicinelli stated support from regional leadership and from across the labor movement.
IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett highlighted workers’ contributions: “You build the F-15. You build the F/A-18. You’re going to build the F-47. You build the systems that defend this nation,” Bennett said. “That is world-class work. And world-class work deserves world-class respect!”
The event included remarks from local Missouri labor leaders such as Jake Hummel of Missouri AFL-CIO and Patrick Kellett of St. Louis Labor Council; Jon Holden of IAM District 751 in Washington state also expressed solidarity with St. Louis strikers based on his experience leading another large-scale strike at Boeing in 2024.
Community organizations, elected officials, other unions—including engineering professionals represented by SPEEA—have shown public support for District 837’s demands for equal treatment regarding pay and retirement benefits compared with other Boeing workers nationwide.
