Boeing Hires Contractors Amid Potential Strike Over Rejected Contract

Boeing has announced plans to hire contractors for engineering and technical roles in its commercial airplane division. This move comes after the company's white-collar union, SPEEA, rejected Boeing's contract offer on Friday.

The current contract between Boeing and SPEEA is set to expire on October 6, and a strike by SPEEA's 17,000 members could further delay certification of Boeing's 737 MAX 10 and 777-9 aircraft. These planes are already years behind schedule due to delays in their certification process.

Bryan Corliss, a union spokesman, said that SPEEA is hopeful that the two parties can agree on a new four-year contract without a strike. However, he also noted that both sides appear to be preparing for the possibility of a work stoppage.