3,200 workers on strike, Boeing moves to replace them with new hiring, job fair on Sept 16

More than 3,200 employees at Boeing’s defence plants in the St Louis region have been on strike since August 4 after rejecting two proposed labour agreements. The workers, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837, produce fighter jets, advanced aircraft and weapons systems.

The strike, the first at the St Louis plants since 1996, began after union members rejected a contract that included an average 40 per cent wage increase over four years, along with improved benefits, pensions and overtime provisions.

Boeing plans permanent replacements

Amid stalled negotiations, Boeing has announced plans to move forward with hiring permanent replacement workers. In a statement, Dan Gillian, Boeing’s vice president and top executive in St Louis, said the company was advancing its contingency plan after little progress had been made with the union. He remarked that the union’s stance had widened the gap between the parties, pushing Boeing to ensure staffing levels were sufficient to continue meeting customer needs, AFP reported.

According to Gillian, Boeing has kept its factories open throughout the strike, with non-striking employees continuing to build, test and deliver products. He added that the company’s defence unit, which generated around $23 billion in revenue last year, remains a critical part of its overall business, The New York Times reported.

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Job fair scheduled for September 16

As part of its hiring drive, Boeing has begun posting job openings for manufacturing roles and announced plans to hold a job fair on September 16. The company has emphasised that these positions are not temporary but permanent replacements for the striking workers.

Boeing has also reiterated its willingness to adjust its proposals but insisted that changes must remain within what it called the current economic framework, AFP said.

Union pushback

Union leaders have sharply criticised Boeing’s approach. Brian Bryant, international president of the machinists union, accused the company of backtracking on previous offers and inflaming tensions among workers. He noted that members were particularly frustrated by the withdrawal of a $5,000 signing bonus, calling the decision a step backward in negotiations, The New York Times said.

The union also signalled through its social media channels that it would not accept “minor adjustments” to pay and benefits, insisting that Boeing’s latest proposals fell short of workers’ expectations. “Boeing says they won’t do any better. IAM members in Saint Louis say we won’t accept that,” the union wrote on X, formerly Twitter

Broader context of labour disputes

The strike in St Louis follows a series of labour disputes across Boeing’s operations in recent years. In 2022, approximately 33,000 Boeing employees in the Seattle area staged a nearly two-month strike before securing a new agreement.

Analysts have noted that the defence unit walkout reflects the ongoing tensions over compensation and work conditions at the aerospace giant, even as it attempts to balance its commercial and defence production lines.

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With negotiations stalled and Boeing now turning to permanent replacements, the standoff shows little sign of easing. The outcome may hinge on whether the company’s recruitment drive succeeds—or if mounting pressure forces both sides back to the bargaining table.