Nov 5, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2025 — The 600,000-member IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers), North America’s largest aerospace, defense and airline union, is calling on the U.S. Trade Representative to strengthen labor enforcement, raise wage standards, and close loopholes that allow offshoring of aerospace, manufacturing and other jobs under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
In written comments submitted to USTR for the mandatory six-year joint review of the USMCA, the IAM Union emphasized that weak labor enforcement in Mexico and inadequate rules of origin continue to threaten good-paying union jobs in the United States and Canada. The IAM Union notably opposed the USMCA during its 2019 adoption, and NAFTA in the early 90s.
“The USMCA promised to lift standards for workers across North America, but too many companies are still chasing low wages and weak enforcement,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “It’s time for a trade policy that defends North American manufacturing, protects our workers, and ensures that every product bearing the USMCA label is truly made under fair conditions.”
The IAM Union’s USMCA filing highlights the need to:
- Expand and strengthen the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) to reach more workers and strengthen labor rights in Mexico.
- Extend the Labor Value Content rule to cover aerospace, shipbuilding, and other key manufacturing sectors.
- Tighten rules of origin to prevent non-USMCA content from entering duty-free supply chains.
The IAM Union’s USMCA filing reads, in part:
“Unfortunately, our concerns about USMCA have proven to be accurate: Mexican industrial wages remain lower than those in China, and offshoring of well-paid U.S. jobs continues, including many in the aerospace sector. Indeed, since USMCA was enacted, we have seen further erosion of good, middle-class, union jobs in the United States. In order to prevent this from continuing, we need to take vigorous action on a number of fronts during the upcoming review.”
The IAM Union represents more than 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, airlines, defense, and manufacturing across the United States and Canada.
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.
goIAM.org | @IAM_Union
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Nov 5, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5, 2025 – U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has sent a letter to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg urging the company to “negotiate in good faith” and “quickly reach an agreement that the IAM 837 machinists can afford to accept,” continuing growing bipartisan pressure on Boeing to end its strike in St. Louis.
Nearly 3,200 IAM District 837 members have been on strike for more than three months—14 weeks without a paycheck or health care—after Boeing has refused to offer a fair contract that reflects the value of the highly skilled workforce building America’s most advanced military aircraft.
“These workers help produce our Nation’s most crucial, most advanced, and most expensive defense tools,” writes Hawley. “And since your company receives billions in government contracts, it is incumbent upon you to do the right thing.”
In his letter, Hawley cites the testimony of IAM District 837 member Joshua Arnold—an Army veteran and longtime Boeing Defense shop steward—who told a Senate committee last month that he and his coworkers have been without pay or health care for months because of Boeing’s refusal to offer a fair contract. Hawley also met privately with Arnold after the hearing.
“Senator Hawley’s letter adds to the growing bipartisan call for Boeing to come back to the table and reach a fair agreement,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Our members have built their lives, families, and communities around this work—and they deserve a contract that reflects their value and the critical role they play in protecting our nation. It’s time for Boeing to do the right thing for the people who build the aircraft that keep our country safe.”
This latest show of congressional support builds on the growing bipartisan outrage over Boeing’s refusal to offer a fair contract. Bipartisan members of the powerful House Armed Services Committee recently urged Boeing to negotiate in good faith as military deliveries fall further behind. Five members of the Senate Armed Services Committee followed up with a strong plea to the company as well, saying that choosing replacement workers over IAM Union members “will be sacrificing the needs of the U.S. military in order to benefit the corporation’s bottom line.”
In October, U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Hawley voiced strong support for IAM Union members. In addition, Reps. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and the Congressional Labor Caucus have joined calls for Boeing to bargain fairly and protect good-paying jobs in the St. Louis region.
The IAM Union submitted a responsible counterproposal to Boeing on Monday, Oct. 27, which included significant union concessions in a good-faith effort to end the strike. Boeing summarily rejected the offer and has still not provided a counteroffer, despite the fact that the difference between the IAM’s proposal and Boeing’s rejected offer amounts to only about $8 million over four years—a fraction of the company’s massive revenue and executive payouts. The IAM Union has now submitted two Unfair Labor Practice Charges against the company for not bargaining in good faith.
IAM District 837 members build and support production of the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and the future F-47 fighter jet—aircraft vital to U.S. and allied defense readiness. Boeing’s failure to propose a fair contract has already led the U.S. Air Force to publicly acknowledge that F-15EX deliveries are delayed.
The IAM Union continues to urge Boeing leadership to return to the bargaining table and secure a deal that brings these skilled workers back to work with the dignity and fairness they’ve earned.
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.
goIAM.org | @IAM_Union
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Nov 4, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2025 – Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are urging Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg to negotiate in good faith and reach a fair agreement with more than 3,200 striking members of IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) District 837 in the St. Louis area who have been on strike for three months.
In a letter to Ortberg, the Senators on the Armed Service Committee are urging Boeing to “bring this strike to an end with an expedited resolution of the negotiation and the successful ratification of a proposal that pays IAM Union District 837 members what they are worth while ensuring that Boeing is able to fulfill its mission and ensure that the men and women of our military have what they need.”
The Senators also expressed deep concern over Boeing’s recent decision to replace striking workers with permanent replacements, warning that such actions could have serious consequences for product quality, safety, and national security.
“If you choose to proceed with replacement workers to complete these projects, you will be sacrificing the needs of the U.S. military in order to benefit the corporation’s bottom line,” wrote the Senators. “Rather than proceeding down this dangerous path, we urge you to rededicate yourself to meeting the needs of your current workers, who are a fount of experience, knowledge and professionalism. Now is the time to make a deal. Our military’s effectiveness and our country’s national security depends on it.”
The Senate letter follows a bipartisan group of 17 members of the House Armed Services Committee, who signed a letter urging Boeing to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.
The IAM Union has estimated that the difference in added costs between the union’s latest proposal — which Boeing summarily rejected without even offering a counter — is approximately $8 million more over four years when compared to the first four years of the company’s latest five-year offer. At the same time, Boeing 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 District 837 members build and support the production of the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and the future F-47 fighter jet.
“We are deeply grateful to the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee for standing up for our members in St. Louis and demanding accountability from Boeing,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The Senators recognize that our members’ skill, dedication, and experience are vital to our national security. Their call for Boeing to negotiate in good faith sends a powerful message that protecting America’s military readiness begins with respecting the people who build it.”
U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have also voiced support for IAM Union members during a Senate HELP Committee hearing where an District 837 member testified about Boeing’s bad-faith tactics. In addition, Reps. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and the Congressional Labor Caucus have joined calls for Boeing to bargain fairly and protect good-paying jobs in the St. Louis region.
For more than 13 weeks, IAM Union members have stood strong on the picket lines while Boeing continues to reject fair and responsible union proposals that would bring the strike to an end. The IAM Union has continued to present reasonable, good-faith contract offers that ensure Boeing can maintain the skilled workforce needed to meet its military delivery obligations.
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.
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Oct 29, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2025 — A bipartisan group of 17 members of the House Armed Services Committee has signed a letter urging Boeing to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith with more than 3,200 striking members of IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) District 837 in the St. Louis area.
The bipartisan letter—led by U.S. Reps. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.)—calls on Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg to “return to the bargaining table with IAM District 837 and negotiate a fair contract in a timely manner,” citing the growing impact of the strike on national security and U.S. defense programs. Boeing’s failure to propose a fair contract has already led the U.S. Air Force to publicly acknowledge that F-15EX deliveries are delayed.
“Boeing Defense plays a vital role in safeguarding our national security and sustaining U.S. leadership on the global stage,” the members wrote. “That success is powered by a dedicated and highly skilled workforce who every day produce planes and other defense equipment that the United States government and our service members rely upon.”
IAM District 837 members build and support the production of the F-15EX, F/A-18, T-7A, MQ-25, and the future F-47 fighter jet.
“Communication and negotiation are crucial to help navigate out of the current situation that preserves the long-term balance between workers’ rights and the defense of our nation,” the letter continues. “We urge you to return to the bargaining table with IAM District 837 and to negotiate and reach a fair contract in a timely manner.”
For more than 12 weeks, IAM Union members have stood strong on the picket lines while Boeing continues to reject fair and responsible union proposals that would bring the strike to an end. The IAM Union has continued to present reasonable, good-faith contract offers that ensure Boeing can maintain the skilled workforce needed to meet its military delivery obligations. On Monday, Oct. 27, the IAM District 837 bargaining committee proposed yet another offer to Boeing in an attempt to end the strike, which the company summarily rejected without making any counter offer.
“Congress is sending a clear message that it’s time for Boeing to respect the highly skilled and experienced IAM Union members who build our nation’s most advanced defense systems,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Our members have offered fair, responsible proposals to end this strike and get back to work. Boeing’s refusal to negotiate in good faith is not only hurting working families—it’s threatening critical defense programs and our national security.”
The IAM Union has now submitted two Unfair Labor Practice Charges against Boeing for continuing to reject union proposals without making any counter offers addressing worker concerns.
This latest show of congressional support builds on the growing bipartisan concern over Boeing’s refusal to reach a fair contract. Earlier this month, U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) voiced support for IAM Union members during a Senate HELP Committee hearing where a District 837 member testified about Boeing’s bad-faith tactics. In addition, Reps. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and the Congressional Labor Caucus have joined calls for Boeing to bargain fairly and protect good-paying jobs in the St. Louis region.
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.
goIAM.org | @IAM_Union
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Oct 23, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2025 – U.S. senators from both parties blasted Boeing for stalling negotiations and prolonging the 12-week strike by 3,200 IAM District 837 members in St. Louis, as IAM Union member and Boeing shop steward Josh Arnold testified before the U.S. Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pension (HELP) Committee on Wednesday.
Invited by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Arnold, a U.S. Army veteran, spoke about Boeing’s refusal to bargain in good faith and the urgent need to strengthen workers’ rights and collective bargaining protections.
“We are now entering the 12th week of our strike,” testified Josh Arnold, an 11-year IAM Union member. “Despite our strike, the company has not improved its offer one bit. In fact, they have backtracked and made it worse. We have now voted on and overwhelmingly rejected their offer three times. Still, company management refuses to return to the table to negotiate in good faith an offer that respects our skills, dedication, and value. The wage and retirement improvements we are seeking would cost Boeing merely half of the cost of one F-15 fighter jet over the next four years.”
Watch the full hearing here.
Arnold’s testimony came as Boeing’s greed and unwillingness to reach a fair agreement have not only hurt working families, but also delayed critical military aircraft orders relied upon by U.S. service members and allies. Boeing management offered another insulting proposal to IAM Union members this week, ignoring a pre-ratified offer members passed in September that would end the strike.
“Boeing could afford to pay its CEO, Mr. Ortberg, $18 million in compensation for four months,” said U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee. “But apparently they just don’t have enough money to sit down with the union and negotiate a fair contract.”
“This company is not giving you and your fellow Machinists what you deserve,” said U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). “This is really unbelievable to me… We have more than 3,000 Missourians who have been loyal to this company for years… To me, it’s incredible that these people in the C-suite—who make unbelievable sums of money—won’t pay their workers well, but they pay their CEO and their executives more than ever before.”
“I want to thank Brother Josh Arnold, our IAM District 837 Bargaining Committee, and all of our members who continue to stand strong,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “It takes courage to stand up and speak truth to power. Josh represented our members, workers, and veterans with honesty and integrity—reminding the Senate and the country that America’s strength lies in the hands of working people, not corporate executives.”
“I’m proud of Brother Josh for standing up before the U.S. Senate and making sure the voices of our members were heard loud and clear,” said IAM Union Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “We’re grateful to Senators Sanders, Hawley, Markey, and others who called out Boeing’s greed for what it is. Their support means a lot to our members, who are fighting not just for a contract, but for respect. This is what solidarity looks like—and we will not back down until Boeing does right by our members.”
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, rail, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across North America.
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Oct 23, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 17, 2025 — Approximately 1,600 members of the IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) employed at Honeywell FM&T are set to be furloughed on Nov. 1, 2025, as the federal government shutdown continues to threaten critical programs and jobs across the country.
The Kansas City Honeywell facility, which operates under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, will enter shutdown mode on Oct. 27, with only a handful of employees remaining on the job unless Congress acts to approve funding for energy and water development appropriations.
“This is a devastating and unnecessary blow to 1,600 working families in Kansas City who proudly support our nation’s defense and energy programs,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “Our members should not be used as pawns in a political stalemate. Congress must act now to end this shutdown and protect working Americans.”
IAM Local 778, which represents approximately 1,611 members at HoneywellFM&T, is currently working to ensure that the IAM Union collective bargaining agreement is honored in the furlough. The IAM Union is also in the process of organizing workshops to help members navigate unemployment benefits and career resources during the potential furlough.
“This shutdown has real consequences for the real working Americans in this country and right here in Kansas City,” said IAM Local 778 Directing Business Representative Scott Brown. “Our members are dedicated, highly skilled workers who should not be left in limbo because of Washington’s failure to pass a budget.”
The IAM Union continues to call on lawmakers to end the government shutdown and provide relief for federal contract workers. The IAM Union has relentlessly advocated for legislation and administrative action to ensure back pay and stronger protections for federal contractors who are too often left behind during funding lapses.
The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, rail, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across North America.
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