Despite what appears to be an imminent strike vote by 3,200 machinists at its St. Louis defense plants, Boeing’s leadership is expressing confidence that major programs, such as the F-47 fighter, will not be significantly affected.

Several thousand Boeing union workers at three St. Louis-area plants who build fighter jets are planning to go on strike after rejecting a proposed contract.

The number of workers planning to strike is an “order of magnitude less” than the 30,000 machinists who went on strike last fall in the Pacific Northwest, CEO Kelly Ortberg said Tuesday during the company’s second quarter earnings call.