Boeing Engineers Reject Contract, Potentially Triggering 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) union announced that 17,000 members voted against the tentative agreement, with 64% of engineers and 72% of technicians opposing it.
The contract, which would have expired on October 6, also included a provision to give the negotiating team the power to declare a strike. Boeing's vice president and functional chief engineer for production engineering, Ben Nimmergut, stated that the company is now implementing its strike contingency plan and diverting funds to prepare for a potential work stoppage.
SPEEA members cited wage increases tied to inflation as a major concern. The contract offered wage hikes capped at 3%, which would have left salaries falling behind inflation in the Seattle area, where most SPEEA members work. Boeing claimed that its offer would be the largest wage increase for SPEEA in 40 years.
The strike authorization vote gives transparency to the membership's needs and willingness to take action. A union spokesperson plans to survey members to see what it will take to approve a four-year contract with Boeing. If a work stoppage occurs, it would further delay Boeing's certification campaigns for its 737 Max 10 and 777-9 planes.