Boeing’s 17,000 engineers could walk on October 6, and Kelly Ortberg admits a strike would freeze 777X certification. Boeing cannot afford it.
According to reports, approximately 17,000 engineers and technical staff represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), are working under contracts that expire on October 6, 2026. That group purportedly rejected an offer in August and authorized a strike by a vote to do so of roughly 88%. Boeing put an improved proposal on the table on September 11th, 2026, one that Leeham News reports includes a 10% general wage increase, and a ratification vote is expected within the coming weeks.
Unfortunately for Ortberg, this doesn’t give him leverage with the engineers (though it may give him more fuel with investors.) Boeing has improved its offer, and he is publicly making a strike his top thing to avoid. SPEAA engineers understand that too.
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