A bipartisan group of 17 members from the House Armed Services Committee has sent a letter to Boeing, urging the company to resume negotiations with more than 3,200 striking members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 in St. Louis. The lawmakers, led by Representatives Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), addressed their concerns directly to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg.
The letter calls on Boeing to “return to the bargaining table with IAM District 837 and negotiate a fair contract in a timely manner,” highlighting that delays caused by the ongoing strike are affecting national security and U.S. defense programs. The U.S. Air Force has already acknowledged delays in F-15EX deliveries as a result.
“Boeing Defense plays a vital role in safeguarding our national security and sustaining U.S. leadership on the global stage,” wrote the committee members. “That success is powered by a dedicated and highly skilled workforce who every day produce planes and other defense equipment that the United States government and our service members rely upon.”
Workers represented by IAM District 837 are responsible for building key military aircraft such as the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and the upcoming F-47 fighter jet.
The lawmakers’ letter continued: “Communication and negotiation are crucial to help navigate out of the current situation that preserves the long-term balance between workers’ rights and the defense of our nation. We urge you to return to the bargaining table with IAM District 837 and to negotiate and reach a fair contract in a timely manner.”
IAM Union members have been on strike for over twelve weeks while Boeing has not accepted union proposals aimed at ending the dispute. According to union representatives, IAM has presented multiple offers intended to maintain a skilled workforce necessary for fulfilling military contracts. On October 27, IAM District 837 submitted another proposal which was rejected by Boeing without any counter offer.
“Congress is sending a clear message that it’s time for Boeing to respect the highly skilled and experienced IAM Union members who build our nation’s most advanced defense systems,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Our members have offered fair, responsible proposals to end this strike and get back to work. Boeing’s refusal to negotiate in good faith is not only hurting working families—it’s threatening critical defense programs and our national security.”
The union has filed two Unfair Labor Practice Charges against Boeing over its approach during negotiations.
Support from Congress adds pressure on Boeing following previous expressions of concern from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers earlier this month. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) voiced support for union members during a Senate HELP Committee hearing where an IAM member testified about what they described as bad-faith tactics by Boeing. Additional calls for fair bargaining have come from Representatives Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), as well as from members of the Congressional Labor Caucus.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 600,000 active and retired workers across North America in industries including aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroads, transit, healthcare, automotive sectors within both Canada and the United States.
