More than 3,000 Boeing defense workers launched a strike on Monday, dealing another setback to the already embattled aerospace manufacturer. The workers, based in Missouri and Illinois, are responsible for building military aircraft such as the F-15 fighter jet.
The strike follows the rejection of Boeing’s latest contract offer by union members over disagreements regarding pay, work schedules, and pensions. According to Boeing, the offer included an average wage increase of 40%. “We’re disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth,” said Dan Gillian, vice president of Boeing’s Air Dominance unit.
The protest is being led by the St. Louis branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), one of the largest unions in the United States. IAM represents approximately 600,000 members across the aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, and manufacturing sectors.
“This is about respect and dignity, not empty promises,” IAM posted on X (formerly Twitter). The union emphasized that 3,200 highly-skilled members began their walkout at midnight.
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This marks Boeing Defense’s first labor strike since 1996, when workers halted production for more than three months. However, Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, downplayed the impact, suggesting it would be far less disruptive than last year’s nearly eight-week strike involving around 30,000 commercial aircraft workers—a walkout that cost the company billions.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about the implications of the strike. We’ll manage our way through that,” Ortberg stated.
The strike adds to Boeing’s long list of recent challenges. The company has been under intense scrutiny following two deadly crashes involving its 737 Max aircraft—in Indonesia in 2018 and Ethiopia in 2019—that killed a combined 346 people.
In 2024, the firm faced another safety scare when a door plug from a Boeing 737 Max detached mid-flight, causing further damage to its already shaken reputation.
Boeing’s production output has also taken a hit. In 2024, it delivered just 348 planes, its lowest delivery total since the COVID-19 pandemic began, as it continues to grapple with safety concerns, quality control issues, and internal unrest.
