Boeing Defense Workers on Strike Reject Contract Offer

St. Louis — Striking Boeing defense employees in Missouri rejected the company's new contract offer, sending over 3,000 workers in the St. Louis region back to the picket lines. It is Boeing's first significant labor strike in almost 30 years.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) announced Friday that members rejected the tentative five-year accord presented earlier this week. Although the pact added an average 45% pay hike, from around $75,000 to $109,000, employees complained it did not offer adequate signing bonuses and that retirement benefits were not increased.

I am International President Brian Bryant made it clear members "will not accept Boeing's half-steps," and the company should come back with an offer that values workers' skills and sacrifices. Boeing, though, laid out no new negotiations on the horizon. Boeing Vice President of Air Dominance Dan Gillian characterized the rejection as "disappointing" and said the company would move forward with filling the positions with permanent replacements to catch up on demand.

The walkout, which started in early August, includes workers who produce and service F-15 fighter aircraft and missile systems. Employees had already turned down a prior offer that proposed a 20% pay increase and a $5,000 signing bonus.