America’s Fighter Jet Output TEETERS In TURMOIL!

A decisive union vote in St. Louis has upended Boeing’s defense production, risking a strike and halting fighter jet output.

At a Glance

• Over 3,200 IAM District 837 members at three St. Louis‑area Boeing defense plants voted overwhelmingly to reject a proposed contract.
• The rejected offer included a 20% wage increase over four years, a $5,000 ratification bonus, and enhanced sick and vacation leave benefits.
• Union leadership recommended the deal, but rank‑and‑file members rejected it as insufficient to meet inflation‑driven living costs and job‑security concerns.
• With the contract expiring July 27 and no talks pending, a mandatory seven‑day cooling‑off period sets a potential strike start date of August 4.
• Boeing’s defense division, which suffered $5.4 billion in operating losses in 2024, now gears up contingency plans amid fears of disrupted F‑15, F‑18 and Red Hawk production.

Defiant Workers Shake Off Leadership

Union leadership, including IAM District 837 officials, had endorsed Boeing’s proposal as “landmark” and the “richest” ever offered to this group. Yet the membership nonetheless delivered a crushing defeat at the ballot box.

Watch: Boeing’s Fighter Jet Workers Reject Contract · FOX 2 St. Louis

Rank‑and‑file members signaled their frustration: they want more than nominal wage gains—they demand respect, security, and compensation that keeps pace with surging inflation and mounting cost of living pressures. The overwhelming vote confirms there is a growing rift between IAM leadership and the workforce on what constitutes real value.

National Security, Economies, and Military Readiness Hang in the Balance

The timing of this labor showdown couldn’t be worse. Boeing’s St. Louis plants are integral to critical military platforms—including F‑15, F/A‑18 Super Hornet, and the upcoming Red Hawk trainer and F‑47 NGAD fighter aircraft programs. Any walk‑out risks delaying aircraft deliveries and exposing supply chain vulnerabilities.

The Department of Defense and key U.S. allies rely on uninterrupted flow of these systems—any disruption jeopardizes readiness amid escalating global tensions. Local communities in Missouri and Illinois also brace for economic shock if production stalls and livelihoods are disrupted. Boeing is silent on further negotiations, but publicly confirms activation of its strike contingency protocols.

Analysts warn this rejection sets a broader precedent. If skilled defense workers at Boeing achieve leverage through solidarity, aerospace peers may face sustained pressure to elevate compensation and improve labor relations—or risk similar upheaval.