Workers went on strike on August 4 after rejecting Boeing’s earlier four-year offer|Anthony Quinta|CC BY-2.0

Boeing Defense and the machinists union reached a tentative deal Wednesday to end a five-week strike in the St. Louis area.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, which represents about 3,200 workers, will vote Friday on Boeing’s five-year contract proposal.

Workers went on strike on August 4 after rejecting Boeing’s earlier four-year offer with a 20% wage increase and $5,000 bonus.

The new deal includes a 24% wage increase, a $4,000 signing bonus, and average compensation growth of 45%. 

Boeing Vice President Dan Gillian called it the company’s best-ever offer to IAM 837 and urged members to approve it.

Some workers remain skeptical and worry the raises will not keep up with rising living costs.

If ratified, employees would return Monday evening, with production normalizing within a week. Boeing previously warned of hiring replacements if the strike continued.