Workers at Boeing’s St. Louis-area plant have accepted the company’s latest five-year contract offer, ending what had been the aircraft maker’s longest strike since 1948.
The 3,200 members of International Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837 will begin returning to work on the evening of November 16th. After rejecting four previous proposals, workers accepted terms that would increase average wages by a total of 24% and provide a $6,000 bonus to each employee who ratified the agreement.
The strike, which began on August 4, was the second longest in Boeing’s 106-year history. Production of military aircraft such as the F-15EX fighter jet has been halted. During the shutdown, hourly factory workers lost thousands of dollars in wages in addition to company-provided health insurance.
“We are pleased with the results and look forward to reuniting our entire team to support our customers on November 17th,” Boeing said in a statement.
Union leaders also praised the results.
“We are proud of what our members have accomplished together and are ready to get back to building the world’s most advanced military aircraft.”
The labor stalemate was marked by finger-pointing, threats from management to hire a replacement, and changes at the top of the company. Mike Fitzsimmons, who played a key role in negotiations as vice president of labor relations, joined Ford Motor Co. last month.
This is the second major strike since Kelly Ortberg took over as CEO in August 2024, and threatens to undermine her campaign to reform the company’s culture and rebuild factory morale.
Last year, a strike by 33,000 machinists halted aircraft production at the company’s Seattle-area business locations. New negotiations are looming as the union’s contract representing 19,000 engineers and technicians expires next October.
IAM District 837’s first strike in nearly 30 years turned bitter, with the union filing an unfair labor practice complaint against Boeing Co. as the Arlington, Va.-based manufacturer held job fairs and hired replacement workers.
In a recent letter to workers in St. Louis, Steve Parker, head of Boeing’s defense division, assured union members that jobs would remain if they approve the latest contract proposal.
“This cannot be future-proofed,” he wrote.
The average base salary for union members will increase from $75,000 to $109,000 a year, Parker said. The aerospace giant has invested billions of dollars in factories in Missouri and Illinois, which also produce munitions, the T-7 trainer aircraft for military pilots, and the MQ-25 refueling drone.
Boeing is ramping up its team as it prepares to build F-47 fighter jets in the St. Louis area. The defense and space division accounts for nearly a third of the company’s revenue.
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