U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has urged Boeing to resume negotiations with striking workers in St. Louis and reach a fair contract agreement. In a letter dated October 1, Sanders addressed Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, referencing the proposal from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, which was approved by 90% of its members.
“What the Machinists in St. Louis are proposing is not radical. It is less generous than the contract you ratified last year with 32,000 Machinists in Washington state,” Sanders wrote. “If Boeing can afford to spend $68 billion on stock buybacks and provide golden parachutes worth over $100 million to former executives, it can afford to provide decent retirement benefits and fair wages to its workers.”
Sanders also criticized Boeing for ending health insurance for employees who are on strike and pointed out the gap between executive compensation and hourly wages for line workers.
The senator’s intervention follows a virtual town hall he held with IAM District 837 members on September 30, where issues such as pay, workplace respect, and long-term security were discussed.
Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security division reported second-quarter revenue of $6.6 billion for fiscal year 2025, marking a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Despite this growth, union members have rejected multiple offers from Boeing, citing that they do not meet basic standards of fairness.
During a recent confirmation hearing for the National Labor Relations Board, Sanders questioned Scott Mayer, chief labor counsel at Boeing, about the company’s approach toward its workforce.
“This strike is about more than wages,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “It’s about respect, fairness, and the future of good aerospace jobs, not only in St. Louis, but across North America. Boeing must stop playing games with our members’ lives and present them with an offer that reflects their skillset, dedication, and sacrifices. Our members deserve respect and dignity for their contributions to building this company, as well as for their service in protecting our troops and nation.”
Negotiations between IAM District 837 and Boeing continue with assistance from a federal mediator. The union states its members have been ready to negotiate since the start of the strike on August 4.
The ongoing strike has received growing support from public officials and labor leaders who emphasize the importance of IAM District 837 members in assembling military aircraft and defense systems.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents around 600,000 active and retired workers throughout North America in sectors including aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railways, transit systems, healthcare services, automotive manufacturing, among others.
