Boeing workers at three Midwestern plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed voted Sunday to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago.
The strike involves about 3,200 machinists at the plants in Mascoutah, Illinois; St. Louis, and St. Charles, Missouri. While this strike is smaller in scale compared to last year’s walkout involving 33,000 Boeing workers assembling commercial jetliners, it still threatens to complicate the aerospace company’s efforts to regain its financial footing.
“Boeing claimed they listened to their employees. The result of today’s vote proves they have not,” said Brian Bryant, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, in a statement.
Boeing expressed disappointment over the vote result and noted that the margin was close. In a company statement, Boeing said it was increasingly hearing from workers “who want to cross the picket line” and “understand the value of our offer.”
“The union’s statement is misleading since the vote failed by the slimmest of margins, 51% to 49%,” the statement read. “We are turning our focus to executing the next phase of our contingency plan in support of our customers.”
The machinists’ union acknowledged the vote was close but affirmed in a message to members that “very few” workers have crossed the picket line. “Our solidarity remains strong, and the company’s claim otherwise is wrong,” the union said.
Union leaders reported that talks have stalled over key issues such as wages and retirement benefits. Boeing, on the other hand, has argued that workers’ demands exceed the cost of living increases in the Midwest.
Ahead of Sunday’s vote, the union advised its members not to approve the company’s latest offer, stating that it “had no meaningful improvements” regarding retirement benefits and wage increases for more senior workers.
Negotiations escalated over the summer, leading up to the strike in August. Workers initially rejected a proposed agreement that included a 20% wage hike over the life of the five-year contract. Boeing then offered a modified agreement which did not increase the proposed pay raises but eliminated a scheduling provision affecting overtime pay eligibility. Workers rejected this offer as well and proceeded to strike the following morning. They also voted against revised terms in September.
Boeing has said it was prepared for the strike, implementing a contingency plan “to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers.”
The company’s Defense, Space & Security division accounts for more than one-third of Boeing’s revenue. Boeing is scheduled to report its third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-10-26/boeing-defense-workers-on-strike-in-the-midwest-reject-the-companys-latest-contract-offer
