Union members representing approximately 3,200 factory workers at Boeing's defense division in the St. Louis area have overwhelmingly rejected the company's contract offer, prompting Boeing to prepare for an imminent strike. The union, primarily composed of machinists involved in assembling fighter jets, criticized the initial proposal for failing to address their priorities and sacrifices. Following the rejection, Boeing resumed contract negotiations and submitted a new offer to the union. The union is scheduled to vote on this revised contract, with a strike set to begin at midnight on August 4 if the offer is rejected. Despite the labor dispute, Boeing's stock has shown resilience. Separately, Boeing faces a lawsuit from four flight attendants who allege physical and emotional injuries from a mid-air cabin panel blowout incident on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 in January 2024.