Why A Shortage Of Airplane Mechanics Is Aviation's Next Challenge


A employee pickets outdoors the Boeing Defense, Space & Security facility in Berkeley, Missouri, US, on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.

Neeta Satam | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Boeing is hiring new workers to exchange workers in its defense unit as their strike enters a second month and not using a new contract settlement.

“Unfortunately, the union continues to demand more of everything while also saying it has no control over what it will take to end the strike, driving the parties further apart,” stated Dan Gillian, a vp at Boeing and senior government on the St. Louis web site, the place most of the defense workers are situated, in an emailed assertion. “As a result, we’re taking the next step in our contingency plan and hiring permanent replacement workers for manufacturing roles to ensure we’re properly staffed to keep supporting our customers.”

Boeing did not say what number of workers it is hiring. The workers assemble and preserve F-15 fighter jets as properly as missile programs.

“Boeing is doubling down on its mismanagement by saying it plans to hire replacement workers to build military aircraft and equipment, instead of negotiating with their dedicated, generational and skilled workforce,” IAM Union International President Brian Bryant stated in a press release. “Boeing – let’s get back to the negotiating table. Let’s get real about the concerns of our members and your employees.”

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The 3,200 workers, represented by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837, went on strike on Aug. 4 after turning down a contract supply from Boeing.

The firm had supplied a 20% normal wage enhance, a $5,000 ratification bonus and different enhancements. Boeing stated the will increase may common about 40% taking into consideration different enhancements. The will increase would convey common IAM 837 machinist pay to greater than $102,000 from $75,000, in line with a notice from Jefferies final month.

Boeing’s defense unit contributed about 30% of the corporate’s $42 billion in income within the first half of this 12 months.

The strike comes lower than a 12 months after greater than 32,000 unionized machinists who construct industrial plane walked off the job after failed contract talks final 12 months.

Their seven-week strike hobbled the corporate’s plane output and ended after they voted to approve a contract with 38% raises over 4 years and different enhancements, marking the most recent in a sequence of aviation labor unions winning higher pay as the business faces a shortfall of trained workers.

Why A Shortage Of Airplane Mechanics Is Aviation's Next Challenge