Boeing employees represented by the company’s largest white-collar union are completing a vote Friday on a new four-year contract offer. Results from the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) are expected by mid-afternoon in Seattle. While Boeing’s negotiating team endorsed the tentative agreement in late July, the councils representing the individual bargaining units did not provide a unified recommendation for approval.
The vote follows a period of labor tension at Boeing, including a seven-week strike in 2024 by approximately 33,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. That work stoppage halted commercial airplane production in the Seattle area. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated in July that the company initiated early discussions to provide business clarity and support for employees.
The proposed contract includes wage increases tied to performance and other company-determined metrics, alongside inflation-linked raises capped at 3%. Some union members reported they voted to reject the deal, stating the 3% cap could cause their pay to fall behind the actual rate of inflation. The technicians unit council recommended a rejection, while the engineers unit council failed to reach the 60% threshold required to issue a formal recommendation to its members.
For the company and the broader aviation market, a rejection could lead to further delays in the certification of the 737 Max 10 and 777-9 aircraft. Both programs are already reported to be several years behind schedule. A strike would repeat the production standstills seen during the 2024 machinist strike, which lasted nearly two months and disrupted the delivery of commercial airplanes to global airline customers.
Beyond the immediate production concerns, this vote sets a precedent for how inflation-based wage protections are handled in high-skill manufacturing sectors. The specific detail of a 3% cap on inflation raises is a central point of contention that other aerospace firms and technical unions may monitor for future negotiations. Following the release of the results this afternoon, the next major milestone will be the expiration of the existing labor agreement in October 2026.