Since the beginning of a strike by members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, tensions have increased between the union and Boeing. In a message sent to its membership, IAM District 837 criticized Boeing’s approach to contract negotiations.
The union stated, “Since the strike began, Boeing has continued to back itself into a corner.” According to IAM District 837, Boeing has refused to change what it calls the “economic parameters” of its offer. The message continues: “That’s not strength and that’s not bargaining — that’s stubbornness. And it’s a strategy that’s failing fast.”
IAM estimates that the gap between its latest proposal and Boeing’s most recent five-year offer is about $8 million over four years. The union claims this additional cost is minor compared to other company expenditures. The statement reads: “Every day this strike continues, Boeing moves further away from meeting its obligations to our military and our allies, to its investors, and to taxpayers — all over $8 million spread across four years. At the same time, this company has handed out $100 million in golden parachutes to failed CEOs, reported $23 billion in third-quarter revenue, and sits on a $76 billion defense backlog.”
IAM alleges that Boeing’s refusal to negotiate is an attempt “to break you — and to break your union,” adding: “It’s not going to work. And it shouldn’t be acceptable to anyone who counts on Boeing that they’re putting ego over military production and national security.”
The message concludes with a call for renewed negotiations: “Boeing can’t spin or stall its way out of this. The only path forward is to sit down and negotiate with the skilled, experienced workforce that actually builds these aircraft and keeps our national defense strong.
Your IAM District 837 Bargaining Committee remains ready to reach a fair and realistic agreement — one that respects your value, restores dignity on the shop floor, and gets our members back to doing the work that only you can do.
Stay strong. Stay united. Boeing chose this fight — and only bargaining in good faith will end it.”
