IAM District 837 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) has issued a statement criticizing Boeing’s approach to ongoing labor negotiations amid a strike. The union claims that Boeing is refusing to alter the “economic parameters” of its offer, describing this as “stubbornness” rather than effective bargaining.
According to the union, the cost difference between their latest proposal and Boeing’s most recent five-year offer amounts to about $8 million over four years. The union says Boeing rejected this proposal without offering a counter.
The statement highlights that, despite the ongoing strike, Boeing has provided $100 million in severance packages to former CEOs, reported $23 billion in revenue for the third quarter, and holds a $76 billion defense backlog. The union argues that prolonging the strike over what it calls a relatively small sum is moving Boeing further from fulfilling its commitments to military clients, investors, and taxpayers.
“It’s clear that the company is simply doing this to try to break you — and to break your union. 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,” reads part of the message sent by IAM District 837.
The union maintains that negotiation is necessary for progress: “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.”
IAM District 837 states its bargaining committee remains ready for talks aimed at reaching an agreement that recognizes workers’ contributions and restores workplace dignity: “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.”
The message concludes by urging members to remain united: “Stay strong. Stay united. Boeing chose this fight — and only bargaining in good faith will end it.”
