Boeing engineers and technical workers approve revised contract

Members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) have approved a new four-year contract with Boeing after rejecting an initial offer in August. The Professional Unit, representing around 13,000 engineers and scientists, voted 68% in favor, while the Technical Unit, with about 4,000 analysts and technicians, approved it by just over 53%. The approval follows a significant rejection of the first offer, where 64% in the Professional Unit and 72% in the Technical Unit voted against it, with strike authorization reaching 88% and 90% respectively.

The approved contract includes an average pay increase of 32% over four years, up from the initial 26.5% offer. This includes a 10% raise after ratification and a 4% raise in March 2027, with wage pools rising by 6% in the following three years. However, the contract retains broad authority for Boeing over job security, non-Boeing labor, and work movement, despite recent layoffs and job relocations. The agreement also fails to address concerns over artificial intelligence, merely establishing a joint committee to study its use without enforceable protections against worker displacement.

Safety concerns remain a critical issue, as Boeing engineers and technical workers play a vital role in aircraft design and certification. The 2018 and 2019 737 MAX 8 crashes highlighted the dangers of production pressure and management failures. Despite the contract's approval, opposition within the Technical Unit was substantial, indicating ongoing mistrust of Boeing management. The union's refusal to seriously prepare for a strike likely influenced the ratification against significant opposition.

The broader context includes a wave of labor unrest in the aerospace and airline industries. Boeing machinists rejected a contract in 2024, defense workers in St. Louis struck for 101 days in 2025, and United Airlines flight attendants and maintenance technicians recently rejected their tentative agreements. These struggles underscore the conflict between workers and management over safety, job security, and fair compensation.