“Enough Is Enough”: Boeing Fighter Jet Workers Walk Off the Job Over Contract Dispute

More than 3,200 Boeing workers who build military aircraft like the F-15 and F/A-18 fighter jets walked off the job early Monday morning, launching a strike that marks the latest hit to the aerospace giant’s turbulent year.

The strike kicked off just after midnight across Boeing facilities in St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri, and Mascoutah, Illinois, after union members overwhelmingly rejected a revised four-year contract proposal. The walkout was announced by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), who declared on social media, “Enough is enough.”

This isn’t just about wages — though money is definitely on the table. Boeing’s latest offer included a 40% average wage increase, improved sick leave and vacation time, and a $5,000 ratification bonus. But workers were still unhappy, particularly with scheduling issues and long-term retirement security.

IAM leadership had initially recommended the proposal, calling it solid, but the rank and file weren’t buying it. Less than 5% voted in favor of the deal, sending a clear message.

“These are the men and women who build the aircraft that defend our country,” said IAM Midwest VP Sam Cicinelli. “They deserve more than empty promises — they deserve a contract that gives them real security and respects their skills.”

The strike affects Boeing’s defense division — a unit already facing billions in losses in recent years. Workers at these plants assemble key aircraft like the F-15, F/A-18, T-7A trainer, and the MQ-25 Stingray drone. The company is also gearing up to produce the next-gen F-47 stealth fighter jet in the region, which could be affected depending on how long the work stoppage lasts.

Boeing insists it’s ready. Dan Gillian, who heads Boeing’s Air Dominance division, said they’ve activated a contingency plan using non-striking staff to keep operations moving.

“We’re disappointed,” he said in a statement, but added the company is “prepared for a strike.”

This is the second major strike to hit Boeing in less than a year. In 2023, a 7-week walkout by 33,000 workers in Washington State cost the company billions and worsened delays already piling up from ongoing safety issues and aircraft delivery slowdowns.

CEO Kelly Ortberg downplayed the impact of this latest strike, telling analysts during last week’s earnings call that the company would manage.

“This is much smaller in scale than last fall’s strike,” he said.

Still, Boeing is juggling multiple crises. The company is still reeling from fatal 737 Max crashes, a mid-air blowout on a MAX 9 earlier this year, and underwhelming aircraft delivery numbers. And now, it’s facing a walkout at a time when its defense division was finally turning a profit again.

The Associated Press, CNN, Reuters, BBC contributed to this report.