Boeing strike delaying Air Force fighter jet deliveries

ST. LOUIS - The ongoing strike at Boeing's St. Louis facility is now affecting the U.S. Air Force, causing delays in the delivery of new fighter jets.

The strike, which began on August 4, has led to the Air Force publicly acknowledging its impact for the first time. The delays are affecting the delivery of Boeing's newest F-15EX fighter jets, which are built in the St. Louis area.

In a written testimony to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, General Kenneth Wilsbach confirmed that the strike has pushed back deliveries of the F-15EX jets. The Air Force has received the first batch of planes, but only half of the next group has been delivered so far.

The strike is impacting not only the St. Louis area but also has broader implications, reaching as far as the Pentagon. The Air National Guard in Portland, Oregon, is among those affected, and there are concerns about potential impacts on next year's overseas shipments.

Approximately 3,200 Boeing workers are on strike after rejecting two contract offers. Boeing's latest proposal includes a 24% pay increase over five years and a $4,000 bonus, while members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 837 (IAM 837) is demanding a 20% increase and a $10,000 bonus, in addition to raises for longtime employees.

Boeing has stated that it is still meeting customer needs and is ramping up efforts to hire replacement workers, a move that the union strongly opposes. No new negotiations are scheduled as the strike enters Day 71.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published.