He didn’t blink.
When Jon Holden, the president of IAM District 751, stood before thousands of Boeing machinists in 2024, the stakes weren't just about a few extra bucks an hour. This was about 16 years of frustration finally boiling over. For over a decade, the workers at Boeing’s Puget Sound plants felt like they’d been squeezed, their pensions snatched away and their wages frozen while the cost of living in Seattle went through the roof.
Holden wasn't just another guy in a suit. He started on the floor as a parts and tooling expeditor in Everett back in the late '90s. He’s seen the inside of those massive hangars. He knows the smell of the shop floor. So, when he led nearly 33,000 workers into a strike that lasted 53 days, he wasn’t just leading a union; he was leading a movement to "rebalance the scales."
Why Jon Holden IAM 751 Became a Household Name in 2024
Most people don't follow union politics until the planes stop rolling off the line. But by October 2024, everyone knew who Jon Holden was. Under his leadership, IAM District 751 rejected not one, but two contract offers that most people thought were pretty decent.
The first "tentative agreement" in September was actually endorsed by Holden and the negotiating committee. They thought a 25% raise was a win. The membership? They hated it. They booed. They shouted. In a stunning display of "workplace democracy," 94.6% of the members voted to reject it.
Holden had a choice: dig in his heels or listen to the floor. He listened.
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Honestly, that’s where his reputation really solidified. He pivoted immediately, becoming the face of a strike that cost Boeing and its suppliers an estimated $9.7 billion. He didn't just ask for more money; he demanded respect for a workforce that felt disposable after the 737 MAX crises and the pandemic.
The Gritty Details of the 2024 Contract Victory
By the time the strike ended in November 2024, the deal on the table looked a lot different than the one that started the fire. Here’s what Holden and the team actually squeezed out of Boeing:
- A massive 38% general wage increase. When you factor in compounding over the four-year contract, that’s actually a 43.65% hike. It’s the kind of jump that changes a family’s zip code.
- The $12,000 ratification bonus. Boeing originally tried to split this into 401(k) contributions and cash, but Holden's team secured the option for workers to take it how they wanted.
- The "Next Airplane" Promise. This is the big one. Boeing committed to building its next major aircraft program in the Puget Sound region. For a town that watched the 787 Dreamliner production migrate to South Carolina, this was about survival.
- Medical and Retirement tweaks. They didn't get the traditional pension back—Boeing wouldn't budge on that—but they got an 8% employer match on 401(k)s and a guaranteed 4% annual incentive payout.
The Long Game: Who is Jon Holden?
To understand why the Jon Holden IAM 751 era is so distinct, you have to look at the guy’s history. He was elected president in March 2014, taking over during one of the darkest periods for the union. His predecessor, Tom Wroblewski, had presided over the 2014 "extension" that cost workers their pensions.
Holden was a Bothell native who worked his way up. He served as a shop steward and a business rep before hitting the top spot. But he did something weird for a union leader: he went back to the shop floor right before he ran for president to make sure he was eligible and in touch with the members.
He’s spent a decade rebuilding the trust that was shattered in 2014. He pushed for a "Membership Bill of Rights" within the IAM constitution to ensure the international leadership couldn't force a contract on local members again. That’s why the 2024 strike was so lopsided—the members finally felt like they were the ones driving the bus, not some guys in a boardroom in Maryland or Chicago.
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Misconceptions About the Strike
People often think these strikes are just about greed. "These guys make $100k already," is a common refrain in the comments sections.
But talk to anyone in IAM 751 and they'll tell you about the "lost decade." Between 2014 and 2024, wages grew by only tiny fractions while the price of a house in Everett or Renton doubled. Holden's strategy wasn't just about 2024; it was about making up for 2014, 2016, and 2020.
Another misconception? That Holden "lost" because he didn't get the pension back. In reality, the pension was a non-starter for Boeing’s credit rating. Holden knew it, but he used the demand for the pension as leverage to get the wage increase from 25% up to 38%. It’s high-stakes poker with thousands of lives on the line.
What’s Next for the Machinists?
As we move into 2026, the dust has settled on the strike, but the work is just beginning. Boeing is under immense pressure to ramp up production of the 737 MAX and the 777X. They need Holden’s members to be productive and precise.
The relationship is still... let's call it "complicated."
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Holden has been vocal about the fact that "there is no Boeing without the IAM." He’s pushing the company to return to an engineering-first culture. He’s also looking toward the 2025 and 2026 negotiations for other smaller units, using the "Boeing Standard" as a blueprint.
Actionable Insights for Labor and Industry
If you’re a worker in the aerospace industry or someone following labor trends, the Jon Holden IAM 751 story offers a few "real-world" takeaways:
- Leverage is about timing. The union waited until Boeing was at its weakest point—suffering from quality issues and leadership changes—to strike.
- Internal unity is everything. A 99.7% strike authorization vote is a weapon. Without that kind of solidarity, the company will always try to split the membership.
- The "Next Program" is the real win. Wage increases are great for today, but securing where the next plane is built is what keeps a union alive for the next thirty years.
- Listen to the "No" votes. Holden’s willingness to go back to the table after his members rejected his first endorsed deal is a masterclass in modern leadership. It's better to admit the members want more than to lose their support entirely.
The IAM 751 victory has already inspired other strikes across the country. We saw it with the District 837 strike in St. Louis later in 2025. Workers everywhere are realizing that the "old way" of doing business—where they take whatever the company offers—is officially over. Jon Holden didn't just win a contract; he changed the expectations of the American middle class.
The path forward for Boeing involves a massive hiring surge to meet their 2026 delivery targets. For those entering the workforce now, the contract Holden secured means these jobs are once again "career" positions, not just "stepping stone" jobs. Keeping an eye on how Boeing implements the 401(k) match and the new short-term disability benefits will be key for members over the next eighteen months.