The planemaker posts engineering jobs as 17,000 union workers prepare for possible walkout, threatening further delays to its 737 MAX 10 and 777-9
Boeing is preparing for a possible strike by 17,000 engineers and technical workers, posting contractor jobs in a move that signals a sharp escalation in its labour dispute with the company’s white-collar union.
The contractor openings appeared days after members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) overwhelmingly rejected Boeing’s latest contract offer. The current agreement expires on October 6.
A strike could further disrupt Boeing’s already-delayed certification programmes for the 737 MAX 10 and 777-9, two of its most important new commercial jets.
SPEEA spokesman Bryan Corliss said the union remained hopeful of reaching a new four-year agreement but acknowledged that both sides appeared to be preparing for a possible work stoppage.
Boeing said it was implementing contingency plans to protect business continuity and support customers, while maintaining its focus on safety and quality.
The potential showdown comes at a sensitive time for Boeing, which is still rebuilding its manufacturing and safety record following years of production problems and the January 2024 737 MAX accident.
The company’s recent labour battles have already resulted in lengthy strikes. Some 33,000 commercial-airplane workers walked out for seven weeks in 2024, while around 3,200 workers at Boeing’s defence division struck for 101 days in 2025.
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