ST. LOUIS — The Boeing Co. said Thursday it would expand its push for replacement workers and boost recruitment efforts as its unionized workforce continued to strike.

Dan Gillian, the aerospace giant's top St. Louis executive, said in a letter to employees that the two-month standoff could go on for weeks or months longer "in light of the union leadership’s actions over the past few weeks."

He said that as a result, the company was activating the next phase of its contingency plan, which had already included hiring replacement workers and job fairs.

Gillian cast the job fairs as a "success" and said the first group of new hires would begin training Friday.

"We’re also immediately expanding the jobs we’re recruiting for," Gillian said, "and stepping up our recruitment efforts to increase hiring activities through the end of the year, including more job fairs and advertising."

The union fired back in a message to members, calling Gillian's move a "terrible idea" that "won't work."

"Dan Gillian just sent an email about how hard he's trying to get scab labor to build the world's most advanced military systems," the note said.

"There are 3,200 highly skilled workers ready to get back on the job," the message said. "The union continues to be ready to negotiate a fair deal."

____

©2025 STLtoday.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.