A group of 17 bipartisan members from the House Armed Services Committee has called on Boeing to resume negotiations with over 3,200 striking workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 in St. Louis. The lawmakers, led by Representatives Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), sent a letter to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg urging the company to “return to the bargaining table with IAM District 837 and negotiate a fair contract in a timely manner,” citing concerns about national security and delays in U.S. defense programs.
The ongoing strike has contributed to delays in delivering key military aircraft such as the F-15EX, which the U.S. Air Force has publicly acknowledged. The letter from lawmakers stated, “Boeing Defense plays a vital role in safeguarding our national security and sustaining U.S. leadership on the global stage. That success is powered by a dedicated and highly skilled workforce who every day produce planes and other defense equipment that the United States government and our service members rely upon.”
IAM District 837 members are responsible for building several important military aircraft, including the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and future F-47 fighter jets.
The letter continued: “Communication and negotiation are crucial to help navigate out of the current situation that preserves the long-term balance between workers’ rights and the defense of our nation. We urge you to return to the bargaining table with IAM District 837 and to negotiate and reach a fair contract in a timely manner.”
For more than twelve weeks, IAM Union members have been on strike while Boeing has rejected union proposals aimed at ending the dispute. According to union representatives, they have made multiple reasonable offers intended to maintain Boeing’s skilled workforce necessary for fulfilling its military contracts. On October 27, IAM District 837 submitted another proposal that was rejected by Boeing without any counteroffer.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant commented: “Congress is sending a clear message that it’s time for Boeing to respect the highly skilled and experienced IAM Union members who build our nation’s most advanced defense systems. Our members have offered fair, responsible proposals to end this strike and get back to work. Boeing’s refusal to negotiate in good faith is not only hurting working families—it’s threatening critical defense programs and our national security.”
The union has filed two Unfair Labor Practice Charges against Boeing for refusing union proposals without providing counteroffers addressing worker concerns.
This congressional action follows earlier support from Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who raised similar issues during a Senate HELP Committee hearing where an IAM District 837 member testified about alleged bad-faith tactics by Boeing. Additional support has come from Representatives Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), and members of the Congressional Labor Caucus calling for fair negotiations.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents around 600,000 active and retired workers across various industries in North America.
