Boeing Engineers Reject Four-Year Deal, Authorize Potential Strike

Boeing engineers and technical workers have voted against the company's proposed four-year labor contract, authorizing their negotiating team to call a strike when the current agreement expires on October 6. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of rejecting the deal, with 64% of engineers and 72% of technical workers voting against it.

The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) represents around 17,000 Boeing employees. The union has not negotiated a new contract with Boeing for its Northwest members since 2012. Members approved contract extensions in 2016 and 2020.

Boeing's vice president Ben Nimmergut stated that the company will now divert funds intended for the SPEEA-represented team to prepare for a potential strike. A work stoppage by SPEEA members would further delay Boeing's certification campaigns for its 737 Max 10 and 777-9 aircraft.

SPEEA negotiating team member Kevin Boyd said that the strike authorization vote 'gives a lot of transparency' and allows the membership to determine what it would take to secure approval for a four-year contract. Several union members who voted against the agreement stated that the proposed wage increases were insufficient to keep pace with Seattle's high cost of living.