U.S. senators from both parties criticized Boeing for its handling of ongoing labor negotiations during a Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pension (HELP) Committee hearing on Wednesday. The comments came as Josh Arnold, an 11-year member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 and a shop steward at Boeing, testified about the company’s approach to talks with union members in St. Louis.
Arnold, who was invited by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), described how 3,200 IAM District 837 members have been on strike for 12 weeks. He said that despite repeated votes rejecting Boeing’s offers, the company has not improved its proposals and has even worsened them. “We are now entering the 12th week of our strike,” Arnold said. “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.”
Senator Sanders pointed out compensation differences between executives and workers: “Boeing could afford to pay its CEO, Mr. Ortberg, $18 million in compensation for four months,” he said. “But apparently they just don’t have enough money to sit down with the union and negotiate a fair contract.”
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) also addressed concerns about worker treatment: “This company is not giving you and your fellow Machinists what you deserve,” Hawley 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 expressed appreciation for 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 said. “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, IAM Union Midwest Territory General Vice President, also commended Arnold’s actions: “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,” Cicinelli 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.”
The strike has affected production schedules for military aircraft used by U.S forces as well as international allies.
