Now, SPEEA is up for contract negotiation, and is starting up the process early, perhaps having seen how the previous two contract talks went and deciding to start negotiating while there was plenty of time between now and when the contract expires in October. But considering how the last sets of contract talks went, there is a very real possibility that the SPEEA contract will end up like the last two: with a strike of indeterminate length.
So today, as some of you settle in to chicken dinners or just waiting for fireworks on the Fourth of July holiday, we’re going to take a look at the odds of different fireworks. What chance is there that SPEEA will strike? And what motives lie behind each?
The Case For a Strike
The biggest case for a strike is Boeing’s recent history. Two contract negotiations have come and gone, and in both cases, ended with a strike. So the idea that history would repeat and give us a third strike is not at all out of line.
Boeing’s approach to previous strikes has been somewhat heavy-handed. It went to hiring temporary replacement workers during the 2025 strike. Thus, handling SPEEA in a similar fashion is, again, not out of line.
