U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has urged Boeing to return to negotiations with striking members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 in St. Louis. In a letter dated October 1, Sanders called on Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg to agree to a contract that would end the nine-week strike involving 3,200 workers.
Sanders noted that the union’s proposal, which was approved by 90% of its members, could resolve the dispute immediately. “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.”
He also criticized Boeing for cutting health insurance for those participating in the strike and highlighted pay disparities between company executives and line workers, some of whom earn as little as $18 an hour.
The letter follows a virtual town hall held by Sanders with District 837 members on September 30, where they discussed issues such as pay, workplace respect, and long-term job security for families in St. Louis.
Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security division reported a second-quarter revenue increase of 10% from the previous year, reaching $6.6 billion for fiscal year 2025. Despite multiple offers from Boeing during negotiations, IAM members have rejected them on grounds that they do not meet standards of fairness.
During a recent confirmation hearing for Scott Mayer—Boeing’s chief labor counsel nominated for the National Labor Relations Board—Sanders questioned Mayer about what he described as failures by Boeing regarding labor relations.
“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 help from a federal mediator. The union maintains that its members have been ready to negotiate fairly since the beginning of the strike.
The walkout began on August 4 and has attracted growing support from elected officials, community groups, and other labor leaders who emphasize the importance of IAM District 837 workers in assembling military aircraft and defense systems.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 600,000 active and retired members throughout North America across several industries including aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroads, transit systems, healthcare sectors, automotive fields among others.
