Boeing Averts Strike After White-Collar Union Approves Contract Offer

Boeing has narrowly avoided a potential strike after its largest white-collar union, SPEEA, approved a new contract offer. The vote, which ended fears of a work stoppage as early as October 7, saw members of both the professional and technical units agree to a four-year deal.

The contract includes a guaranteed 10% wage increase upon ratification, along with annual raises of 4%, and the possibility of an additional 2% pay hike based on performance. About 68% of the professional unit, which represents roughly 13,000 engineers and scientists, voted in favor of the deal, as did more than 53% of the technical unit, representing about 4,000 designers, analysts, and technicians.

The vote is a significant relief for Boeing, which has faced concerns over a potential strike due to the ongoing certification efforts for the 737 MAX 10 narrowbody and 777X widebody jets. A work stoppage could have delayed these critical certification efforts and disrupted the company's plans to increase production and accelerate deliveries.

SPEEA's last strike against Boeing was in 2000, when engineers and technical workers walked out for 40 days in a dispute over pay and benefits. The union's negotiation team stated that they secured many victories in the new contract offer and urged members to work with Boeing to rebuild trust and restore aerospace professionals and technicians to the center of the company's universe.