U.S. senators from both parties criticized Boeing for its handling of ongoing labor negotiations, as the strike by 3,200 members of IAM District 837 in St. Louis entered its twelfth week. Josh Arnold, a U.S. Army veteran and shop steward for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), testified before the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pension (HELP) Committee at the invitation of Senator Bernie Sanders.
Arnold described Boeing’s refusal to improve its contract offer and said that union members have rejected the company’s proposal three times. “We are now entering the 12th week of our strike,” Arnold told the committee. “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.”
The prolonged dispute has affected working families as well as delayed military aircraft orders relied upon by U.S. service members and allies.
Senator Bernie Sanders addressed Boeing’s executive compensation: “Boeing could afford to pay its CEO, Mr. Ortberg, $18 million in compensation for four months,” Sanders said during his remarks as 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.”
Senator Josh Hawley also spoke about workers’ concerns: “This company is not giving you and your fellow Machinists what you deserve,” he said. “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.”
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant commended Arnold’s testimony: “I want to thank Brother Josh Arnold, our IAM District 837 Bargaining Committee, and all of our members who continue to stand strong,” Bryant stated. “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.”
Sam Cicinelli, General Vice President for IAM Midwest Territory added: “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,” he said. “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.”
