Senators Question Boeing Labor Counsel Over Prolonged St. Louis Machinists Strike

The ongoing strike by approximately 3,200 Boeing workers at its St. Louis-area defense plants has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Bernie Sanders, who questioned Boeing's labor attorney Scott Mayer during a Senate hearing about the company's handling of the dispute. The workers, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837, have been striking since early August, demanding significant wage increases, better healthcare, and improved working conditions, with some employees earning as little as $18 an hour. Both senators highlighted the contrast between the workers' low wages and the multi-million dollar exit payouts awarded to former Boeing CEOs, urging the company to fairly compensate its workforce. Sanders additionally sent a letter to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg urging an end to the strike. AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler visited the strikers but was criticized for supporting union leadership perceived to be undermining the strike, as the company has already begun hiring permanent replacements amid federal mediation efforts. With Pentagon demands for increased missile and fighter jet production, the strike remains a critical labor dispute impacting national defense manufacturing.