Boeing engineers and technical workers approved a four-year contract sweetened with an immediate 10% raise, avoiding a potential attack on the aerospace giant because it seeks federal approval for new aircraft and to increase aircraft production.
“We have achieved many victories that some did not achieve when this negotiation cycle began,” said the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, which represents about 13,000 Boeing engineers and 4,000 technical workers.
Boeing increased its offer in mid-September after workers rejected an earlier proposal. In addition to the 10% ratification wage increase, the four-year contract includes annual increases of 4%, with increases of up to 6% based on performance.
The professional unit, which includes engineers, voted 67.62% for the new contract, and the technology unit approved the contract with 53.48%, the union said.
The labor group, which is Boeing’s largest white-collar union, rejected a previous offer of a 3% annual raise.
Boeing said in a statement that it was “pleased with the results of the vote.”
The agreement allows Boeing to avoid similar strikes as it tries to stabilize and ramp up production of the fast-selling jet and gain federal approval for the 737 Max 10 and 777X, which have been in the works for years.
The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday said it was evaluating whether a software problem on the 737 Max 10, which could affect landing procedures in certain scenarios, caused flight safety issues.
A machine strike two years ago halted production until both sides reached an agreement.