Category: SPEED FACTS

August 16, 2022 Dear Brothers and Sisters, Below we’ve listed some items that have been completed for the new Contract. The $8000 signing bonus will be given as a separate check on September 8, 2022.  For those wishing to defer all or a portion of the bonus to your 401k, a one-week window will be available August 26 – September 1st for you to make your election if you so choose. Rate increases for those employees under new rate minimum. COLA fold-in for all employees. $2 increase for all employees. Adjustment of the second shift differential to $1. Team Lead […]

August 2, 2022 Dear Brothers and Sisters, There will be “1” vote tomorrow which is to either Accept or Reject.  If it is accepted, we go back to work.  If it is rejected, then the strike will begin at 12:01am Thursday, August 4th. Here is the work schedule for Wednesday, August 3rd:• 3rd shift – Business as usual.• 2nd shift – Business as usual.• 1st shift – Come in as normal, clock out to go vote, then either return to work or go home, or an “O” day, vacation, or sick day. The “Contract” vote will be held at: The Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, Saint Charles, MO  63303 Doors open at 9am and meeting starts promptly at 10am! […]

Nearly 2,500 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 have voted to strike the Boeing Co. in St. Louis. IAM District 837, which represents workers at three Boeing Defense locations, released the following statement regarding the rejection of the company’s offer: “Our members have spoken loudly and with one voice. We reject Boeing’s current contract offer and will strike at all three St. Louis area locations, starting at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. We cannot accept a contract that is not fair and equitable, as this company continues to make billions of dollars each year off the […]

Dear Brothers and Sisters, In preparation for the upcoming contract vote this Sunday July 24th, we want the membership to understand why we recommend rejecting the Company’s “best and final offer”. The Company’s initial proposals were rock bottom and borderline insulting.  After weeks of bargaining and hard work from your Negotiating Committee, the Company’s last offer still falls short of what you deserve! Your Negotiating Committee proposed GWI’s (general wage increase), Wage progression, and Retirement gains that reflect a fair and equitable contract. The company has offered subpar GWI’s, no change in wage progression, and take aways in the 401k. […]

Approximately 2,500 members of IAM District 837 opened contract negotiations on July 6, 2022, with Boeing Defense. IAM members are spread throughout Boeing facilities in St. Charles, MO, St. Louis, and Mascoutah, IL. These highly skilled members fabricate, assemble and build some of the world’s most advanced military and passenger aircraft and missiles. The negotiating team will be discussing wages, healthcare, retirement, job, and income security. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these workers were declared essential and did their part to protect this country. “Our goal is to emerge from these talks with a contract that is both fair and equitable,” […]

SIGN UP FOR STRIKE DUTIES Dear Brothers and Sisters, The expiration of the current contract is rapidly approaching. Your Bargaining Committee has been formulating our Union proposals and negotiations are underway.          While it is still too early to tell how the final proposal will look, we are preparing for the worst. It takes many weeks of preparation to ensure that picket lines are properly staffed, the various committees (Security, Check-in, etc…) are identified, and everyone knows the procedures that will be used in the event that the Company forces us to reject their contract offer. The Strike Committee is […]

Strike Sanction Vote Participation June 27, 2022 Dear Brothers and Sisters, The “Strike Sanction” vote that was held on Saturday, June 25th was a HUGE success!!  Your votes returned a 99% “strike approval” which is outstanding. It was great seeing you all there and to witness what true Union solidarity looks like.  Your dedication shows the Company and our Community, without a doubt, the strength of being a Union member!!! With that said, your participation in the upcoming “Contract” vote on Sunday, July 24th will be even more important, so we ask that you please plan on being there.  We […]

    Strike Sanction Vote Meeting is…Saturday, June 25, 2022            When is the Strike Sanction Meeting?                The strike sanction vote will be on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at       “The Family Arena” located at: 2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles, MO 63303 “ENTER THROUGH GATE 2” Doors will open at 9:00 a.m. and the meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. ALL SHOP STEWARDS, SAFETY & ASSIGNED COMMITTEE WORKERS WILL REPORT AT 8AM!!! Do we get excused from work to attend the Strike Sanction Meeting? The Company has verbally committed to NO mandatory OT on Saturday, June 25th to […]

Brothers and Sisters, As we finish the first few days of non-economics, we have made progress in Job Specs and Contract Language. However, we have a long way to go in securing an acceptable contract. Stay united in the fight for our contract and our future. The Strike Sanction vote is next Saturday at the Family Arena. I cannot stress enough the importance of this vote! We need all our members in attendance to send a strong united message to the company. If you have not received a text blast as of yesterday, please fill out another card. Strike Sanction […]

May 25, 2022 Dear Brothers and Sisters, The “Bargaining Committee” will be finishing our “Non-Economic” proposals this Friday, May 27th in preparation for the start of “Non-Economic” bargaining with the Company on June 14th. In addition, the “Bargaining Committee” will start meeting again in the next couple of weeks to put together our “Economic” proposals for the Company.  We have received the results of the last survey and based on those survey’s; the membership’s focus has not changed on what it will take to get an “ACCEPTED” contract.  We appreciate ALL of your suggestions and comments concerning the contract.  As […]

Dear GKN Brothers and Sisters, The Union recently made a request of GKN Aerospace to allow those of our members wishing to leave work early on December 23, 2021, to waive the charging of attendance points on this day.  The Company responded to the Union’s request with a firm “no”, they would not be able to meet the Union’s request at this time. It is disappointing to the Union that the Company refused to accommodate this modest request during the holiday season as you have diligently reported to work throughout the ongoing pandemic. District offices will be closed December 24, […]

Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Company has agreed to allow employees to leave early from work on Thursday,  December 23, 2021, without any charge to your attendance; provided you arrive at work on time and remain at work for at least four (4) hours.  All other absences will be counted as usual under the Attendance Policy. District offices will be closed December 24, 2021, through January 3, 2022, returning to business as usual, Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Enjoy you Union negotiated holiday break with family and friends and please be safe. On behalf of your Business Representatives, Plant Chairmen, and […]

Dear Brothers and Sisters:                                                                                            November 15, 2021      The Union and Company met again on Friday 11/12/2021 to discuss the vaccine mandate and the effects it will have on our membership. As I have said all along this is a fluid situation and changes/updates are continuously being made by the administration and the Company. We feel some of the changes made are a positive step to keep our membership employed and safe while we work through this process. We are hearing of members who received their accommodations and are hopeful everyone who has requested an accommodation is approved. We […]

Dear Brothers and Sisters:                                          November 01, 2021      These have certainly been some of the toughest times for our members, as we have all been impacted by the COVID pandemic. First and foremost, we are continuing to engage in effects bargaining with The Boeing Company. We are not close to reaching an agreement and will continue to schedule meetings in the future. It is important for us to communicate today, as we understand the anxiety and stress this vaccine mandate has caused for our members. We want to encourage members that are considering submission of a medical or religious exemption […]

Boeing Brothers and Sisters, The Union was notified by Boeing over the weekend of a flier circulating on the shop floor regarding a possible work stoppage that would take place this week by some of our members in protest of the recent vaccine mandate.  I want to be very clear in my message, the Union strongly encourages the membership Not to Participate in this activity.  By interception of this flier, the Company has been made aware of the intent of those who participate.  Article 20 Section 1 of the collective bargaining agreement states: A. There shall be no slowdowns, picketing, […]

Brothers and Sisters, We were officially notified yesterday (October 12, 2021) that Boeing would be moving forward with a vaccine mandate in line with Executive Order 14042 and President’s Biden’s COVID-19 action plan. The Company announced they will require all U.S. based Boeing employees to either show proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an approved reasonable accommodation (based on a medical or religious belief) in place by Dec. 8, 2021. This morning we demanded to bargain the effects of this decision. The Executive Order includes the ability to request religious and medical exemptions for those unable or […]

Recently, your Negotiating Committee completed their week-long Bargaining class in preparation for the Boeing contract negotiations that will happen next year. A major takeaway from this training is the importance of the role you, the membership, will play throughout the coming year. Your negotiating committee can only be as effective at the table as the membership’s solidarity is on the shop floor. We know that a majority of the membership have never been through a Boeing contact negotiation in St. Louis and therefore many may not know how the bargaining process is accomplished. Over the next year, your negotiating committee, […]

Most Essential Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Dear Brothers and Sisters, As our communities and our states begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Boeing decided to make the wearing of face masks in the workplace a requirement across the enterprise beginning, June 15, 2020. I encourage all members to adhere to this policy and use common sense, social distancing practices. Please address any safety concerns you may have with your manager and union representative. For over two months IAM 837 members have continued to come to work as designated “essential workers”, making a profit for the Boeing Company during […]

Back To Business Tuesday, June 9, 2020 Dear Brothers and Sisters, Last week during a (3) hour conference call with GKN leadership, the Union discussed many topics. One was the continued efforts to keep employees safe despite political decisions to open up our state for business. We encouraged continual cleaning practices, access to sufficient safety supplies, and improved communication about COVID-19 related incidences in the shop. We discussed current grievances and the need to select arbitrators on multiple grievances where we are unable to reach an agreement. As a result of the pandemic, all arbitrations have been postponed until it […]

Dear “Essential” Machinist Member, We continue to see progress being made with regard to the company providing adequate safety supplies, however, your union continues to press for more improvements. I am frustrated by the company’s refusal to relax attendance and LOA guidelines and its practice of forcing employees to quarantine without pay or forced to use available PTO. Common sense dictates that employees should not have to choose between potentially exposing coworkers and getting a paycheck. It ‘s already stressful enough to be forced to be working in a potentially unsafe environment because of strict attendance and LOA rules. The […]

Dear Brothers and Sisters, With every day that goes by it seems the world changes before our eyes. Right in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, District 837 members must still go to work. On one hand we still have the opportunity to earn a paycheck, while on the other is the need to be safe and the fear of contracting a potentially fatal virus. Never before have we faced such a stressful dilemma. This pandemic has raised known and unknown issues of safety and company policy that need to be addressed and/or negotiated. While both companies portray an image […]