Boeing’s Move Puts St. Louis Jobs at Risk—And Communities on Edge
Boeing has announced plans to relocate its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Service Life Modification (SLM) work away from St. Louis by 2027, shifting the program to sites in San Antonio, Jacksonville, and San Diego. While company executives frame this as a “strategic expansion,” the move reveals deeper truths about our national economy—truths that demand attention from anyone concerned with peace, justice, and community well-being.
War Jobs, Not Community Jobs
Boeing insists that the St. Louis region will remain busy—producing new F-15EX fighters, T-7A Red Hawk trainers, MQ-25 drones, JDAM munitions, and even the Air Force’s next-generation fighter. In other words, this is not a step back from war production. It is a doubling down.
- Old jets will be upgraded elsewhere.
- New jets and weapons will continue to be built here.
Instead of scaling down militarization, the relocation simply reshuffles the war economy while keeping communities like St. Louis dependent on military contracts.
Workers on Strike, Power Undermined
This announcement comes as over 3,200 Boeing machinists in St. Louis are on strike, demanding fair wages and benefits. By dispersing SLM work to other facilities, Boeing weakens local bargaining power and pits regions against one another in competition for war jobs. This is not economic security. It is corporate control.
A False Choice for Communities
For decades, communities have been told they must either accept military production jobs—or face economic collapse. But this is a false choice. The skills of machinists, engineers, and technicians are desperately needed in civilian industries:
- Renewable energy and green infrastructure
- Public transportation systems
- Housing retrofits and climate resilience projects
Redirecting federal investment could ensure workers keep their livelihoods without depending on weapons production.
The Peace Economy Alternative
Boeing’s decision underscores why we need planned conversion from a war economy to a peace economy. As long as St. Louis and other regions remain tied to defense contracts, they will be vulnerable to corporate decisions that prioritize profits over people.
We call on policymakers, unions, and community leaders to use this moment as a pivot point:
- Invest in non-military industries that meet human needs.
- Support striking workers in their demand for fair treatment.
- Develop long-term economic conversion plans so communities no longer depend on the military-industrial complex for survival.
The real future of St. Louis—and of our nation—must not rest on endless war production. It must rest on building a peace economy that secures jobs, justice, and a livable future.
