Boeing Workers Reject Contract, Authorize Potential Strike Amid Delayed Aircraft Certifications

Boeing's proposed four-year labor contract has been rejected by its engineers and technical workers. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), which represents around 17,000 Boeing employees, voted on the tentative agreement separately for engineers and technical workers. Engineers rejected the proposal by a significant margin, with 64% voting against it, while about 72% of technical workers also voted no.

The proposed contract included wage increases tied to inflation, capped at 3%, as well as individual performance-based raises determined by Boeing. However, several union members who voted against the agreement said these increases were insufficient to keep pace with Seattle's high cost of living and were lower than what competing companies have paid employees.

Boeing's vice president for production engineering, Ben Nimmergut, stated that the company will now implement its strike contingency plan, diverting funds originally allocated for a potential raise. A work stoppage by SPEEA members would further delay Boeing's certification campaigns for its 737 Max 10 and 777-9 aircraft.