Boeing's 17,000 SPEEA Workers Reject 4-Year Deal, Authorize Strike Over 3% Wage Cap
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Aug 21
Boeing's 17,000 SPEEA Workers Reject 4-Year Deal, Authorize Strike Over 3% Wage Cap
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Aug 21
Summary
17,000 Boeing engineers and technical workers voted down the company’s four-year contract offer and overwhelmingly empowered SPEEA negotiators to call a strike when the pact expires in October.
A 3% cap on inflation-linked raises drove much of the opposition, with members saying it would leave pay trailing Seattle-area inflation, which the CPI showed running at 4.5% over the past year.
The rejection came even though Boeing’s offer was seen by some members as better than expected and included nearly 30% wage growth over four years, but neither SPEEA bargaining council endorsed it.
Any walkout by Boeing’s largest white-collar union could further slow certification of the 737 Max 10 and 777-9, both already years behind schedule, after a 2024 machinists strike halted Seattle-area production for seven weeks.