WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2025 – U.S. senators from both parties blasted Boeing for stalling negotiations and prolonging the 12-week strike by 3,200 IAM District 837 members in St. Louis, as IAM Union member and Boeing shop steward Josh Arnold testified before the U.S. Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pension (HELP) Committee on Wednesday.
Invited by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Arnold, a U.S. Army veteran, spoke about Boeing’s refusal to bargain in good faith and the urgent need to strengthen workers’ rights and collective bargaining protections.
“We are now entering the 12th week of our strike,” testified Josh Arnold, an 11-year IAM Union member. “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.”
Arnold’s testimony came as Boeing’s greed and unwillingness to reach a fair agreement have not only hurt working families, but also delayed critical military aircraft orders relied upon by U.S. service members and allies. Boeing management offered another insulting proposal to IAM Union members this week, ignoring a pre-ratified offer members passed in September that would end the strike.
“Boeing could afford to pay its CEO, Mr. Ortberg, $18 million in compensation for four months,” said U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 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.”
“This company is not giving you and your fellow Machinists what you deserve,” said U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). “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.”
“I want to thank Brother Josh Arnold, our IAM District 837 Bargaining Committee, and all of our members who continue to stand strong,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “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.”
“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,” said IAM Union Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “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 IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, rail, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across North America.
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