U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has urged Boeing to resume negotiations with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, whose 3,200 members have been on strike in St. Louis for nine weeks.
In a letter dated October 1 to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Sanders stated that the union’s proposal—approved by 90% of its members—could bring an immediate end to the ongoing strike. “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 criticized Boeing for cutting health insurance for striking employees and noted disparities between executive compensation and hourly wages, some as low as $18 per hour.
The senator’s intervention follows his participation in a virtual town hall 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—a figure representing a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Despite multiple offers from Boeing during negotiations overseen by a federal mediator, union members have rejected them on grounds they do not meet basic standards of fairness.
During Scott Mayer’s confirmation hearing for the National Labor Relations Board, Sanders questioned Mayer—Boeing’s chief labor counsel—about what he described as shortcomings in Boeing’s approach toward its workforce.
IAM International President Brian Bryant commented: “This strike is about more than wages. 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.”
The IAM Union represents approximately 600,000 active and retired workers across North America in industries including aerospace and defense.
Support for the strike has grown among elected officials and community leaders who highlight IAM District 837’s role in producing advanced military aircraft systems.
