IAM District 751 in Washington State has donated $32,000 to the strike fund of IAM District 837, which is currently engaged in a labor dispute with The Boeing Company in St. Louis. The donation is intended to support striking workers as they continue their efforts to secure a new contract.
Since the strike began on August 4, support for District 837 members has come from various parts of the labor movement, including other unions, public officials, and community organizations.
“District 837 members are standing up for the respect and dignity every Boeing worker deserves,” said Jon Holden, President and Directing Business Representative of IAM Union District 751. “Our members in the Pacific Northwest know firsthand the power of solidarity. This contribution is about standing shoulder to shoulder with our union family in St. Louis. Boeing can afford to do the right thing, and it’s time they come to the table and bargain in good faith.”
Holden previously led over 30,000 IAM members through a lengthy strike against Boeing in 2024 that resulted in significant improvements for workers based in the Pacific Northwest. He visited St. Louis earlier this month to join striking workers at a rally and deliver the donation personally.
IAM District 837 decided to strike after contract negotiations with Boeing stalled over issues related to compensation and recognition of workers’ contributions to aerospace and defense products vital for national security. Talks between IAM District 837 and Boeing are ongoing with oversight from a federal mediator.
“Our members are proud of the work they do building critical aerospace and defense products,” said Tom Boelling, President and Directing Business Representative of IAM Union District 837. “We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support from District 751 and the entire IAM family. Together, we’re sending a clear message: when one of us is under attack, we all stand together.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) maintains a Strike Fund on its website goIAM.org to assist members affected by strikes by accepting donations from union members as well as supporters outside the organization.
The union encourages additional contributions from other locals, districts, and allies to help sustain striking workers as negotiations continue.
The IAM represents about 600,000 active and retired workers across North America in industries such as aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, railroads, transit systems, healthcare services, automotive manufacturing, among others.
