Boeing engineers and technical workers have rejected the company’s proposed four-year collective bargaining agreements and authorised their union to call a strike. The offer was rejected by 64.25% of engineers and 71.87% of technical workers, while strike authorisation received support from 87.82% and 89.71%, respectively. With the current contracts set to expire on October 6, a strike could begin as early as October 7.
Boeing’s proposal included an average pay increase of around 30% over four years, three additional days of paid leave, limits on mandatory overtime and expanded remote-work opportunities. However, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) said employees’ primary concern was not compensation but a lack of trust in management. The union raised concerns over jobs being moved out of the region, management interference in technical decisions and schedules being prioritised over quality. Boeing laid off more than 200 SPEEA-represented employees in 2024.
A potential strike is expected to affect engineering and technical work rather than aircraft assembly directly. This could disrupt Boeing’s 737 MAX 7, 737 MAX 10 and 777-9 certification programmes as the company works to increase production.
SPEEA last went on strike in 2000, while Boeing faced a 53-day factory work stoppage two years ago following a strike by IAM 751 members.
