Welcome to District 837!
Home of the Fighting Aerospace Machinists

STRIKE VOTE Dear GKN Brothers and Sisters, During Sundays January 22, 2012 Contract Ratification the membership rejected the contract with a vote of 232 to accept and 426 to reject. A Strike Vote was then taken and it was announced from the podium that the membership had the two-thirds of the members present to declare a strike. The strike vote numbers were reported as 450 yes votes and 232 no votes, which equates to 65.98 percent.
An error occurred when it was announced we had two-thirds majority. After consultation with our International President and per the IAM Constitution, in order to declare a Strike, such vote must carry by a two-thirds majority of those present and qualified to vote, which is in fact 66.66 percent.
Therefore Brothers and Sisters a strike vote was not reached and the Contract is ratified. Every member and every contract is governed by our IAM Constitution, as such; it is our sworn duty to inform you the membership the official outcome.
Fraternally yours,
Gordon King President Directing Business Representative


Boeing SpeedFacts January 20, 2012 PPSP Payout Information
GKN SpeedFacts  January 18, 2012, Best, Last & Final GKN Negotiation Update
RTI SpeedFacts August 24, 2011 Labor Day Parade





Machinists' from Local Lodge 837A and 837B joined the District staff in forming an informational picket outside of GKN's plant on Friday, January 13, 2012 as a show of solidarity with their brothers and sisters embroiled in bitter contract negotiations with GKN




The St. Louis Science Center acquired a U.S. Navy Blue Angel to go on permanent display in December of 2011. District members Kim Jones and Mike Carasone were on hand to witness the historic event. The fighter jet was built by District Machinist and modified to meet the precision flying requirements of one of the world's greatest flight demonstration team.

2012 Human Rights Scholarship Program Rules & Application Now Available! Click here to view in Microsoft Word! Click here to view as an Adobe PDF!

Kneeling in front from left to right are Joe Eulgen and Jay Gambell.
Back row from left to right are Bruce Darrough (Pres. Local B), Keith Stratmann, Leo Jones, ADBR Steve McDerman, Tony Somers, PDBR Gordon King, Kevin Wallace and DST DeWitt Darity.

On Monday October4 24, 2011 volunteers helped to replenish the Union Hall grounds with young trees and shrubs, through Project Communitree and provided by Forest Relief of Missouri, an organization that assists Non-for-profit organizations and residents who were impacted by the recent tornado and storms to hit the St. Louis area. In all the volunteers planted 44 trees and shrubs, with the species being Tulip, Swamp White Oak, Chinkapin Oak, Willow Oak trees and Vibrunum shrubs, which are all native to the state of Missouri.

2011 SERVICE AWARDS BANQUETS PHOTOS click here

Special Notice: The District received approval to re-instate the Business Rep that was eliminated around two years ago as a cost-cutting measure. Effective September 1, 2011, Earl Schuessler will be re-instated as a full-time Business Representative. The District Delegates approved the motion unanimously after receiving permission from the International to re-gain the lost representative.

PDBR King, Sec/Treas. Darity, BR's McDerman and Edwards join members of District 837 and thousands of concerned St. Louis area citizens in protesting the Missouri Anti-worker legislation

Nearly 5,000 rally in Downtown St. Louis against corporate greed!

Union workers joined community organizations, religious leaders and elected officials to protest the out-of-control corporate greed that is hurting Missouri's middle class.

Chanting "We Are One," workers from every walk of life demonstrated the unity and organization that is needed to stop the race to the bottom pushed by some elected officials in Jefferson City. Members from every union in town were there and weren't hungry--Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 members kept the grill going all afternoon, with some help from Firefighters and Laborers.

Members of SEIU Local 1 walked over from work downtown, as did with members of IBEW Locals 1 and 1439.  IAM District 9 and 837 members and retirees headed over with UAW members on school buses. UAW Local 1887 member Jim Pulliam talked about how his company, a highly-profitable medical manufacturer "wanted nothing but take-backs and give aways. They told us in bargaining that they were making money, but went after our pensions and health insurance."

The attacks on workers are massive. From "right to work for less" to repealing our child labor laws, a dangerous paycheck deception bill meant to bust our public worker unions and attempts to gut the minimum wage, the agenda of greed is plain as day. Many workers attending Friday's rally hadn't been to a protest before, but talked about being inspired by events in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and elsewhere. Teachers, members of MNEA and AFT Local 420 and retirees expressed their concerns about attacks on education and how repealing child labor laws would make their jobs even more difficult.

From Painters District Council 2 to Teamsters Joint Council 13, and all the unions of the St. Louis Building Trades Council, utility workers of Gas Workers Local 2, USW and CWA 6300, and public workers of AFSCME Council 72 and CWA 6355 and Operating Engineers Locals 148 and 513 it was an impressive show of solidarity. Also big thanks to Missouri Jobs with Justice and Missouri Pro-vote for all their support and assistance.