Approximately 3,200 Boeing workers in St. Louis, St. Charles, Missouri, and Mascoutah, Illinois, launched a strike at midnight on Monday, Central Daylight Time, after rejecting a revised four-year labour contract from Boeing.Represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the workers, who build fighter jets and defence systems, voted down the proposal, which followed their rejection of an earlier offer last week that included a 20% wage increase over four years.
The union emphasised the workers’ frustration, stating on X, “3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough.”
Sam Cicinelli, Midwest territory general vice president for IAM, highlighted that these workers, critical to national security, deserve a contract that reflects their expertise and ensures family security.
Despite union leaders initially endorsing the earlier proposal as a “landmark agreement” with enhanced medical, pension, and overtime benefits, members found it insufficient.The latest rejected offer, which Boeing claimed provided a 40% average wage increase and addressed key concerns like alternative work schedules, failed to satisfy workers after a weeklong cooling-off period.
The union emphasised the workers’ frustration, stating on X, “3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough.”
Sam Cicinelli, Midwest territory general vice president for IAM, highlighted that these workers, critical to national security, deserve a contract that reflects their expertise and ensures family security.
Despite union leaders initially endorsing the earlier proposal as a “landmark agreement” with enhanced medical, pension, and overtime benefits, members found it insufficient.The latest rejected offer, which Boeing claimed provided a 40% average wage increase and addressed key concerns like alternative work schedules, failed to satisfy workers after a weeklong cooling-off period.
Boeing’s Dan Gillian, vice president and general manager for Air Dominance, expressed disappointment but confirmed the company’s contingency plan to maintain operations with non-striking staff.
The strike comes amid Boeing’s ongoing challenges, including fallout from two fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people, and a recent Air India-operated Dreamliner crash in June that claimed at least 260 lives.
Despite Boeing reporting improved second-quarter revenue and reduced losses ($611 million compared to $1.44 billion the previous year), the unresolved labour dispute underscores tensions over fair compensation and working conditions for these skilled workers.
(With input from agencies)
(Edited by : Vivek Dubey)
