Boeing Engineers Reject Contract, Threaten Strike on Key Aircraft Programs

Boeing engineers have rejected their contract offer and authorized a strike, which could delay work on two major aircraft programs. The union representing them, SPEEA, announced that its professional and technical employees voted to reject the offer and authorize a strike.

The strike would affect exactly the people who perform the final certification work on new airplanes, including scientists, engineers, pilots, and technical analysts across five states. Production workers are not included in this group, but their absence could still have significant implications for Boeing's operations.

Boeing is currently certifying two major aircraft programs: the 737 Max 10 and the 77X. Certification is a crucial step before a plane can fly passengers, requiring a long list of tests, inspections, and paperwork. A strike would likely stall these certification steps, meaning airlines wait longer for their new planes and Boeing waits longer for the cash.

Boeing Vice President Ben Nimmergut defended the offer, saying that it positions employees among market leaders in pay and benefits in the Pacific Northwest. However, the union has indicated that they will survey their members to learn what conditions would make a contract acceptable, suggesting that the two sides are still far apart.