Boeing engineers union rejects new contract, over 87% authorize strike
Boeing's white-collar union, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), announced vote results on August 21: its Professional Unit, representing nearly 13,000 engineers and scientists, rejected Boeing's proposed four-year contract by 64.3% (7,238 against, 4,027 in favor), while its Technical Unit, representing more than 4,000 analysts, designers and technicians, rejected its contract by 71.9% (2,795 against, 1,094 in favor). Both units separately approved strike authorization — 87.8% for the Professional Unit and 89.7% for the Technical Unit — with 92% of eligible members voting. The union said members objected mainly to wage increases capped at 3%, while the Seattle-area Consumer Price Index rose 4.5% over the past year. The current contracts expire October 6, at which point the union's bargaining team would have authority to call a strike; SPEEA said it will survey members on what it would take to approve a new contract before talks resume.
Verification note: Vote figures summarized from Bloomberg, Leeham News and other outlets reporting SPEEA's announced results. Bargaining progress and whether a strike actually occurs are subject to SPEEA and Boeing's official statements.