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 began a strike after rejecting a tentative four-year contract offer.
This marks the first strike in Boeing's defense segment since 1996, impacting facilities in Missouri and Illinois responsible for aircraft like the F-15 and F/A-18.
Despite Boeing's claim that the rejected contract included a 40% earnings increase, the union insists members deserve a deal that better reflects their skill and dedication.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.