Boeing posted contractor job openings for engineering and technical positions on Tuesday, following a contract rejection by its white-collar union. The move comes as the planemaker and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) prepare for a potential work stoppage when the current labor agreement expires on October 6.
The labor dispute escalated after SPEEA members overwhelmingly voted against Boeing's contract offer on Friday. In response, Boeing announced it would begin implementing contingency plans to maintain operations. The company stated it is seeking a new four-year agreement but must protect business continuity in the event of a strike.
Union officials expressed concern that hiring external contractors could impact the company's efforts to improve aircraft quality and safety. Bryan Corliss, a spokesperson for SPEEA, stated that the union remains hopeful for a deal but noted that both sides appear to be preparing for a strike. Boeing declined to comment specifically on the new job postings but confirmed it is leveraging "qualified resources" to support customers.
The scale of the dispute extends to Boeing's production timelines and airline customers worldwide. A strike could cause further delays for the certification of the 737 MAX 10 and 777-9 aircraft, which are already several years behind schedule. These delays affect airlines waiting to put these new jets into service and impact Boeing’s recovery from safety and quality issues identified after a January 2024 mid-air accident involving a 737 MAX.
This labor tension follows two other major strikes at the company: a seven-week walkout by 33,000 machinists in 2024 and a 101-day strike by 3,200 defense division workers in 2025. If an agreement is not reached by the October 6 deadline, the resulting work stoppage would be the third large-scale strike Boeing has faced in two years. Negotiators are expected to remain at the table in an attempt to reach a settlement before the current contract expires.