St. Louis Machinists Reject Boeing Contract, Prepare for Strike at Defense Plants

St. Louis — On Sunday, members of the Machinists Union rejected Boeing's latest contract proposal, triggering a strike scheduled to commence at midnight Monday across the company's three defense manufacturing facilities in the St. Louis region. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837 has not yet disclosed the voting results from the gathering at the St. Louis Music Park in Maryland Heights. This strike marks the first industrial action by defense sector employees in the area since 1996. "Our members have made their stance clear—they deserve a contract that recognizes their expertise, commitment, and vital contribution to national security," stated Tom Boelling, the union's District 837 Director of Business. "We stand united with these hardworking families as they advocate for fairness and respect in the workplace." The contract offer under rejection proposed a 20% wage increase—8% initially, followed by 4% increases annually over the subsequent three years—for most union members.