More than 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 at Boeing facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles, Missouri, and Mascoutah, Illinois have voted to reject a contract offer from Boeing Defense. The vote took place on Sunday, July 27.
Union representatives stated that the proposal did not meet the priorities or reflect the sacrifices made by their skilled workforce. “IAM Union members delivered a clear message: the proposal from Boeing Defense fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled IAM Union workforce. Our members are standing together to demand a contract that respects their work and ensures a secure future,” according to an official statement.
If no new agreement is reached before the current contract expires at 11:59 p.m. CT on July 27, there will be a seven-day cooling-off period before any strike action begins.
The union expressed its intention to continue negotiations with Boeing leadership. “The IAM Union remains committed to achieving a fair contract that meets the needs of our members. The IAM Union looks forward to returning to the bargaining table with Boeing’s leadership to deliver meaningful improvements that support the well-being and livelihoods of IAM members and their families.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 600,000 active and retired workers in industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and others across North America.
For more information about IAM’s activities or membership details visit https://www.goiam.org/.