Boeing defense strike extends after contract rejection

Boeing defense strike enters a seventh week after workers rejected the latest contract offer.

The Boeing defense strike has now lasted seven weeks after members of IAM (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) District 837 in Missouri and Illinois voted to reject a proposed contract, extending pickets that are disrupting production of fighter jets and military systems used by the US and allied forces.

Employees at the affected Boeing defense plants said the deal on the table didn’t meet their demands on pay, scheduling and staffing; union leaders for District 837 put the decision to their members, who opted to continue the work stoppage rather than accept the current offer.

Boeing defense strike: what’s at stake

The extended strike targets production lines and systems that feed US and partner-country defense programs. While Boeing’s commercial aviation business often dominates headlines, its defense production—components, subsystems and final assembly for military platforms—relies on skilled workers at those Missouri and Illinois sites. A prolonged stoppage can ripple through supplier networks and test delivery timelines for airframes and electronic systems.

Who is striking: IAM District 837 (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers).
Where: Boeing defense plants in Missouri and Illinois.
Why: Members rejected the latest contract offer and extended the strike.
Impact: Disruption to fighter jet production and military systems for US and allied programs; Boeing defense strike remains active.

Negotiations are likely to continue while both sides weigh options; those could include renewed bargaining, federal mediation, or additional union actions. For now, workers remain on the line and Boeing’s defense output is operating below normal capacity, with potential schedule and supply-chain consequences until a settlement is reached.