U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has urged Boeing to return to negotiations with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, whose 3,200 members have been on strike in St. Louis for nine weeks.
In a letter dated October 1 addressed to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Sanders highlighted that the union’s proposal had been approved by 90% of its members and could bring an immediate end to the strike. Sanders stated, “What the Machinists in St. Louis are proposing is not radical. It is less generous than the contract you ratified last year with 32,000 Machinists in Washington state,” adding, “If Boeing can afford to spend $68 billion on stock buybacks and provide golden parachutes worth over $100 million to former executives, it can afford to provide decent retirement benefits and fair wages to its workers.”
Sanders also criticized Boeing for terminating health insurance for striking employees and noted the difference between executive compensation and worker pay rates as low as $18 per hour.
The letter follows a virtual town hall held by Sanders with IAM District 837 members on September 30, where they discussed issues such as pay equity and job security.
Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security division reported second-quarter revenue of $6.6 billion for fiscal year 2025—a rise of 10% from the previous year. The union has rejected several company offers, saying they do not meet expectations regarding fairness.
During a recent confirmation hearing for National Labor Relations Board nominee Scott Mayer—Boeing’s chief labor counsel—Sanders questioned Mayer about Boeing’s handling of labor relations.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant commented on the ongoing dispute: “This strike is about more than wages,” he said. “It’s about respect, fairness, and the future of good aerospace jobs, not only in St. Louis, but across North America. Boeing must stop playing games with our members’ lives and present them with an offer that reflects their skillset, dedication, and sacrifices. Our members deserve respect and dignity for their contributions to building this company, as well as for their service in protecting our troops and nation.”
Negotiations between IAM District 837 and Boeing are continuing with help from a federal mediator. The union states its readiness to bargain fairly remains unchanged since the start of the strike; it now awaits a new offer from Boeing that meets member standards.
Support for striking workers has grown among public officials and community groups who point out IAM District 837’s role in assembling advanced military aircraft and defense systems.
The IAM represents around 600,000 active and retired workers across North America in sectors including aerospace, defense manufacturing, airlines, shipbuilding, transit services, healthcare industries, automotive workforces among others.
