Boeing Defense Workers Go on Strike

Work stoppage is the aerospace giant’s second in less than a year.

Zach Vasile

Monday, August 04, 2025 at 11:31 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The EA-18G Growler, a variant in the F/A-18 family. [Courtesy: U.S. Navy]

Key Takeaways:

Over 3,000 unionized workers in Boeing's defense division went on strike after rejecting a tentative four-year contract offer.
The striking International Association of Machinists (IAM) members, based in Missouri and Illinois, are crucial for assembling and maintaining defense aircraft and missile systems.
Workers rejected Boeing's offer, which included a 40% average earnings increase (20% general wage increase and a $5,000 ratification bonus), seeking a contract that better reflects their skill and contribution to national defense.

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Over 3,000 unionized workers in Boeing’s defense division walked off the job Monday after voting to reject a tentative four-year contract with the aerospace manufacturing giant.

A St. Louis-based branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) announced the strike in a statement over the weekend. The union did not say what specific contract provisions its members objected to or what concessions they hope to win from their employer.