More than 3,200 members of IAM District 837 at Boeing sites in St. Louis, St. Charles, Missouri, and Mascoutah, Illinois, have voted to reject a proposed contract from Boeing Defense. The vote took place on Sunday, July 27.
IAM Union representatives stated that the offer did not meet the expectations or recognize the efforts of 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.
The current labor agreement is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. CT on July 27. If no new deal is reached by then, there will be a seven-day cooling off period before any strike action could begin.
Union officials said they remain focused on negotiating terms that benefit their membership. “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 across industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and others in both the United States and Canada.
Further information about IAM can be found at https://www.goiam.org/.