Boeing has posted contractor positions for engineering and technical roles as its labor dispute with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, or SPEEA, escalates. The union’s 17,000 members overwhelmingly rejected Boeing’s contract offer on Friday, prompting the company to begin contingency planning for a possible strike after the current agreement expires on October 6. A work stoppage could further delay certification of the 737 MAX 10 and 777-9, two major Boeing commercial jets already years behind schedule. SPEEA spokesman Bryan Corliss said the union remains hopeful of reaching a new four-year contract but acknowledged that both sides appear to be preparing for a strike. Boeing said its contingency planning would use qualified resources while maintaining its focus on safety, quality and business continuity. The dispute comes as Boeing continues recovering from quality and safety problems that followed a January 2024 mid-air accident involving a nearly new 737 MAX. Corliss warned that bringing in thousands of contractors could undermine progress in Boeing’s commercial aircraft production programs. Boeing’s recent labor history includes a seven-week 2024 strike by roughly 33,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers at its commercial airplanes division and a 101-day 2025 strike by about 3,200 IAM members at its defense division.