Boeing Workers End 101-Day Strike After Approving New Contract

Post by : Sameer Saifi

Striking workers at Boeing Defense in the St. Louis area have approved a new labor contract, ending a long 101-day walkout. The vote took place on Thursday, and union leaders confirmed that 68% of the workers supported the new five-year deal. About 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) will return to work starting Sunday.

The strike began on August 4 and caused major delays at Boeing’s military aircraft plants. These workers help build important planes like the F-15 and F/A-18 fighter jets, the T-7 training aircraft, and parts of the 777X commercial jet. Because of the strike, deliveries of the F-15 to the U.S. Air Force were slowed down.

Union leaders said their members stayed “strong and united” for more than three months. They said they were proud of what the workers achieved together and were ready to return to building important aircraft for the country.

Boeing said it is happy with the vote and looks forward to having the full team back by November 17. The company said it wants to continue supporting its customers without further delays.

Why Workers Went on Strike

The union had asked Boeing for a better ratification bonus and stronger retirement benefits. They hoped for a deal similar to what Boeing gave IAM workers in Seattle after a 53-day strike last year.

Boeing did not raise the total value of its offer during most of the strike. The contract includes a 24% wage increase over five years.

However, earlier this week, Boeing made a change:

It increased the upfront cash bonus to $6,000 (previously $3,000).

But it reduced $4,000 that workers would have received later in the contract.

Many workers felt the new offer still did not meet their demands, but voting showed that a majority wanted to end the strike and return to work.

Workers Feeling Tired and Worried

One union member, Brandon Thiel, told Reuters that many workers were “fatigued” and stressed about the upcoming holiday season. He said some parents were worried about not having enough money for their families if the strike continued.

He also shared that the company had more financial strength to wait out the strike than the workers did. He personally voted against the new deal.

Political Pressure and Complaints

The strike gained attention from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, who urged Boeing to negotiate more fairly.

The union also filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing Boeing of bargaining in bad faith. Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg had earlier said he was not concerned about the strike’s impact on the company.

Now, with the vote completed, both sides are preparing to return to normal operations and resume work on important defense projects.

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