Boeing engineers and technicians ratify four-year contracts, averting strike

Boeing's unionised engineers, scientists and technical staff have approved new four-year contracts, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace said on 1 October. The vote came days before the existing agreement expired on 6 October, and removes the prospect of a strike that could have started on 7 October.

The union represents roughly 17,000 Boeing employees across two groups. The professional division covers about 13,000 engineers and scientists, the technical unit 4,000 analysts, designers and technicians. Both groups voted down Boeing's first offer in August, then spent the past week voting on the company's second proposal.

Ratification was split. SPEEA said 67% of voting members in the professional division backed the deal. The technical group approved it by a 54% margin.

The contracts take effect on 7 October. According to the union, they provide a 10% wage increase on 2 October, a further 4% raise in March 2027, and 6% annual raises in 2028, 2029 and 2030 — a total increase of 36% over the four years.

"We are marching forward to test, design and certify airplanes," SPEEA representative Bryan Corliss said. The union's negotiation team said members had secured gains that had seemed out of reach when talks began, and credited members' collective action for the result. Boeing said it was pleased with the outcome of the vote and looked forward to working with the team to support the company's continued recovery and to meet customer commitments.