Boeing Engineers Reject Contract Offer, Union Prepares for Strike

Boeing engineers and technical workers have overwhelmingly rejected the company's four-year contract offer. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), which represents around 17,000 Boeing employees, said its members voted convincingly against the tentative agreement.

The vote was not close, with 64% of engineers rejecting the deal and 72% of tech workers doing the same. The contract extension would have included wage increases tied to inflation - capped at 3% - as well as individual performance-based raises.

Several union members expressed concerns that the proposed wage increases were not high enough to keep up with the cost of living in the Seattle area, where most SPEEA members work. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index rose by 4.5% over the past year for the Seattle area.

Boeing's vice-president and functional chief engineer for production engineering, Ben Nimmergut, said the company is now implementing its strike contingency plan and diverting funds to prepare for a potential work stoppage. SPEEA members have not negotiated a new contract with Boeing since 2012, and some are willing to go on strike to secure better wages.