A work group consisting of nearly 17,000 Boeing engineers, scientists, technicians, analysts, and other employees has rejected the aerospace manufacturer’s latest contract offers, setting the stage for a possible work stoppage in the fall.
Two subunits of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) chapter at Boeing last Friday voted against the separate offers extended to them and in favor of authorizing a strike. The chapter’s Professional Unit, which includes mainly aerospace engineers and scientists, voted 64% against, while the Technical Unit, which consists of designers, analysts, technicians, and specialists, voted 71% against.
In a statement, SPEEA said members raised concerns about job security, salaries falling behind inflation and the market, and “quality and safety taking a backseat to schedule.”
“The next few weeks will be busy for the Negotiation Team, but we are committed to negotiating the best offer that reflects all our SPEEA members’ voices,” SPEEA said.
The workers’ current contract expires on Oct. 6, and the soonest a strike could occur is Oct. 7.
Boeing said that while no further discussions with SPEEA are planned, its “goal is to reach a resolution before the current contract expires.”
“We have a responsibility to the rest of our workforce and customers,” the company said in a statement. “We’re implementing our contingency planning to protect business continuity and keep delivering for our customers in the event of a strike.”
The business will “continue running” if a work stoppage occurs, Boeing added.
“We will leverage a wide range of qualified resources to ensure we’re doing what’s right for our customers with an emphasis on safety and quality,” the statement continued. “The specifics of the planning will be shared with managers and employees who will be directly involved.”
On Tuesday, Boeing began posting contractor positions on job sites, likely a safeguard in case its workers walk out in October.
The strike threat comes as Boeing rebuilds much of the momentum it lost during the 737 MAX crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and years of supply chain disruptions. Production of the MAX and the 787 Dreamliner are ramping up, and just recently the company secured certification for the long-delayed MAX 7. It hopes to have the similarly delayed MAX 10 certified by the end of the year.
At the same time, labor relations have remained a sore point. In 2024, Boeing’s machinists went on strike for 53 days. The disruption cost the company around $5.5 billion.
The following year, Boeing Defense workers in and around St. Louis stayed off the job for over three months.
