Boeing’s largest white-collar union representing approximately 13,000 engineers and 4,000 technical workers has ratified a new four-year labor agreement. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace announced that the professional engineering unit approved the contract with 67.62% support, while the technical unit voted in favor with 53.48% backing.
The agreement provides workers with a 10% wage increase upon ratification, followed by annual raises of 4% throughout the contract period. Workers are also eligible for merit-based increases of up to 6%. The union characterized the negotiations as successful, noting that several provisions secured in the final deal were considered unlikely when talks commenced.
This contract approval comes after the union rejected a preliminary proposal in mid-September that had included only 3% annual raises. Boeing subsequently enhanced its offer, leading to the acceptance of the improved terms. The approval averts a labor action at a critical time for the company, as Boeing seeks to expand production of its commercial jet aircraft and obtain regulatory clearance for the 737 Max 10 and 777X models, both of which face significant schedule delays.
The aerospace manufacturer’s situation has additional urgency given recent regulatory developments. On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it is evaluating whether a software issue identified on the 737 Max 10, which could potentially impact landing procedures under specific circumstances, represents a safety concern requiring additional attention.
The successful contract resolution contrasts with a previous labor dispute at the company. A machinist strike occurred two years ago, which disrupted manufacturing operations until a settlement was reached between the union and management.
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