Boeing strike continues at its F-15 and Hornet factories in the Midwest

The strike at Boeing’s F-15 and F/A-18 factories in the Midwest is in its third month, extending one of the longest strikes in company history.

About 3,200 workers at three Boeing plants in Missouri and Illinois have been on strike since early August, boycotting work at factories that build and maintain the U.S. military’s F-15 Strike Eagle, the F/A-18 Hornet and some missile technology.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said Sunday its members voted to reject Boeing’s latest contract offer, adding that the offer “disrespects” the skilled workers who keep America’s arsenal flying.

The union also said the disruptions “continue to threaten military readiness.”

“Boeing claimed to have listened to its employees – the outcome of today’s vote proves that is not the case,” said union President Brian Bryant. “Boeing executives continue to insult the very people who build the world’s most advanced military aircraft – the same military aircraft and systems that keep our military and our nation safe.”

“It is long past time for Boeing to stop underestimating the workers who make its success possible and negotiate a fair deal that respects their skills and sacrifices,” Bryant added.

Union leaders have pushed Boeing to increase pension contributions, offer wage increases that keep pace with inflation and match the $12,000 ratification bonus the company gave to Pacific Northwest commercial airplane workers who went on strike last year.

The union said the new deal would have cost Boeing an additional $50 million over four years, or “about half the cost of an F-15 fighter jet produced by IAM union members.”

Boeing said Sunday it was disappointed by the latest result and that the vote was decided narrowly.

“The union’s statement is misleading since the vote failed by a very narrow margin, 51% to 49%,” Boeing said in a statement. “We are focused on executing the next phase of our contingency plan to support our customers.”

The company added on its website that it is seeing more and more workers “who want to cross the picket line” and “understand the value” of their offer.

Boeing said its latest counteroffer includes a 24% across-the-board pay increase over five years, additional vacation and sick time, a $1,000 retention bonus after four years and $3,000 of Boeing stock vesting over three years.

It also offered workers a $3,000 ratification bonus.

Boeing and the union did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Boeing CEO says ‘we will make it happen’

The continued strike comes just days before Boeing reports its third-quarter results on Wednesday.

Its defense, security and space businesses contribute about a third of the company’s revenue and place Boeing among the U.S. federal government’s largest military contractors.

The company faced another, much larger strike last fall, involving 30,000 of its machinists in the northwest United States who rejected their employment contracts. This strike lasted seven weeks and ended in early November 2024.

During an earnings conference call in July, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the scale of this latest strike was “much less” than last year.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about the implications of the strike. We’ll get through this,” Ortberg said.

The company said on its website that production continues at all St. Louis, Mo., locations with non-striking employees. The company’s St. Louis plant, as the primary manufacturing hub for military aircraft, is expected to be a key site for building the new sixth-generation F-47 air superiority fighter.

The striking machinists are also working on the T-7A Redhawk, a fighter trainer, and the MQ-25 Stingray, a new aerial refueling drone for the US Navy, still in testing.

The picketing also coincides with Boeing’s efforts to repair its image after a series of major safety incidents affecting its commercial jetliner business.

The manufacturer has been burdened by three high-profile accidents since 2018 involving its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner planes, as well as an infamous mid-flight door jam explosion in January 2024.

The Trump administration’s award of the F-47 contract to Boeing was seen as a major victory for the aircraft maker amid its reputational woes.