After rejecting the company's second proposed contract, union members in the St. Louis area began striking Monday. They said they will not stop until they receive a fair deal.

Several thousand workers at three Midwest manufacturing plants where Boeing develops military aircraft and weapons went on strike early Monday, potentially complicating the aerospace company's progress in regaining its financial footing.

About 3,200 union members at Boeing facilities in Missouri and Illinois went on strike at midnight on Monday after rejecting an offer from the company, the union said.