ST. LOUIS 鈥 The union representing 51黑料-area Boeing workers wants members of Missouri鈥檚 congressional delegation on their side in the ongoing labor dispute with the company.
Bryan Bryant, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, wrote to members of the state鈥檚 congressional delegation urging them to intervene in the 51黑料-area Boeing machinists鈥 strike.
鈥淲e ask that you stand with these workers,鈥 Bryant鈥檚 letter says, 鈥渢o urge the Boeing Company to return to the bargaining table to negotiate a good faith agreement commensurate with the skills and dedication of this workforce.鈥
The union released copies of the letters, dated Monday, to the news media on Wednesday. The union represents about 3,200 51黑料-area Boeing employees. The strike started Aug. 4.
The workers have rejected two contract offers from the Boeing Co.
People are also reading…
Each proposal included a 20% general wage increase over four years, though employees at the top of the pay scale would receive lump sum payments instead of raises for part of the contract.
鈥淭hese proud aerospace manufacturing workers recently voted to reject Boeing鈥檚 substandard contract offer and withhold their labor,鈥 Bryant鈥檚 letter says.
Boeing hit back at the union in a statement Wednesday, calling attention to a previous press release the union issued prior to the strike, which a 鈥渓andmark.鈥
Members voted it down.
鈥淲e鈥檙e surprised to hear the IAM International call our offer 鈥榮ubstandard鈥 after hailing it as a 鈥榣andmark鈥 agreement which they endorsed just three weeks ago,鈥 Dan Gillian, a vice president for Boeing, said in a statement.
鈥淲e remain ready and willing to listen to any constructive proposals from the union,鈥 he said.
Spokespeople for U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, both Republicans, didn鈥檛 respond to requests for comment.
Nor did representatives for U.S. Rep. Bob Onder, a Republican whose district stretches into eastern St. Charles County.
U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, a Democrat whose district covers 51黑料 and parts 51黑料 County, including some Boeing offices, said in a statement Thursday he heard from the union-represented machinists of District 837, and that he sees their commitment, sacrifice and their pride in the work they do.
鈥淏oeing is a major employer and an anchor of our local economy, but that success is only possible because of the men and women on the line,鈥 said Bell. 鈥淚 urge both sides to come back to the table and negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement that honors the value these workers bring every single day.鈥
U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican representing west 51黑料 County and Franklin County, said in a statement that she was hopeful for a 鈥渜uick, mutually agreeable resolution so that American military superiority is not impacted and our local economy does not suffer.鈥
The 51黑料 workers make defense aircraft for Boeing at sites in 51黑料 County, St. Charles and Mascoutah. The products made there include the F-15 and F-18 fighter jets, T-7A trainer and MQ-25 refueling drone.
Earlier this year, Boeing was awarded a $20 billion contract to build the Air Force鈥檚 next-generation fighter jet, the F-47. Although the Virginia-based company has not said whether it will hire more workers here, aerospace analysts had called the deal a major win for the region.
Post-Dispatch photographers capture tens of thousands of images and hours of footage every year. See some of their best work from July 2025 here.
