Overview
- More than 3,200 members of IAM District 837 at three St. Louis-area defense plants voted overwhelmingly against a contract that included a 20% wage increase over four years.
- Union leaders had hailed the proposal as landmark, but rank-and-file workers said it fell short of addressing their priorities and sacrifices.
- The previous collective bargaining agreement expired at midnight on July 27, activating a seven-day cooling-off period that prevents a strike until Aug. 4.
- Boeing’s Air Dominance division has paused negotiations and activated contingency plans to brace for disruptions at facilities that build F/A-18 Super Hornets and Red Hawk trainers.
- A strike could stall production of key fighter jets and complicate Boeing’s expansion of the F-47 program while its defense arm remains unprofitable since 2022.