Nearly 17,000 employees of Boeing, including engineers, scientists, technicians, analysts, and other staff, have rejected the aerospace manufacturer’s latest contract offers. This rejection may potentially lead to a work stoppage in the fall.
The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) chapter at Boeing has two subunits, the Professional Unit and the Technical Unit. On Friday, both units voted against the separate offers extended to them and authorized a strike. The Professional Unit, which primarily consists of aerospace engineers and scientists, voted 64% against, while the Technical Unit, which includes designers, analysts, technicians, and specialists, voted 71% against.
In a statement, SPEEA expressed concerns raised by its members regarding job security, salaries that have not kept up with inflation and the market, and the prioritization of schedule over quality and safety.
The Negotiation Team of SPEEA is committed to negotiating the best offer that reflects the voices of all its members. The workers’ current contract is set to expire on October 6, and a strike could potentially occur as early as October 7.
Boeing has stated that while no further discussions with SPEEA are planned, their goal is to reach a resolution before the current contract expires. The company also added that it has a responsibility to its workforce and customers and is implementing contingency plans to ensure business continuity in the event of a strike.
Boeing also mentioned its plans to leverage a wide range of qualified resources to continue meeting the needs of its customers, with a focus on safety and quality. The specifics of these plans will be shared with managers and employees directly involved.
In response to the strike threat, Boeing has started posting contractor positions on job sites. This is seen as a precautionary measure in case its employees do go on strike in October.
The potential strike comes at a time when Boeing is slowly recovering from the setbacks it faced due to the 737 MAX crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply chain disruptions. The company is ramping up production of the MAX and the 787 Dreamliner, and recently received certification for the long-delayed MAX 7. It also hopes to obtain certification for the MAX 10 by the end of this year.
However, labor relations remain a point of concern for Boeing. In 2024, its machinists went on strike for 53 days, resulting in a loss of approximately $5. 5 billion for the company. The following year, workers in and around St. Louis from Boeing Defense also went on strike for over three months.