The possibility of a strike at Boeing is increasing as disgruntled factory workers express dissatisfaction with the contract offer negotiated by their union. The president of the local union representing 33,000 Boeing workers, Jon Holden, has predicted that they will reject the deal, which includes a 25% raise spread over four years and a commitment to have the company's next aircraft built by union members in Washington state.

Holden, in an interview with The Seattle Times, shared that the response from employees regarding the contract offer has been largely negative. Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are scheduled to vote this Thursday on both the proposed agreement and the possibility of going on strike starting Friday, should they choose to reject it.

The discontent among union members has been amplified on social media platforms, with numerous workers expressing their dissatisfaction with the offer. At a recent protest during a lunch break at the Everett, Washington plant, hundreds of employees chanted, "Strike! Strike! Strike!" highlighting the growing tensions.

Surprisingly, even though a strike at airlines is a rarity, a potential walkout at Boeing would not immediately impact consumers in terms of flight cancellations. However, it would bring production to a grinding halt, leaving Boeing with no aircraft to deliver to the airlines that have placed orders.

Over the weekend, Boeing and the union announced a tentative agreement, which includes the 25% wage increase and aims to prevent any work suspensions on ongoing projects such as the 737 Max and the larger 777 widebody jet. However, it fell short of the union's initial demand for pay raises of 40% over three years and the restoration of traditional pensions that were eliminated in earlier union concessions.

In a message to the union members, Holden acknowledged that while they had achieved maximum gains through negotiations, a strike was their only remaining bargaining tool. He recommended acceptance of the proposed contract, citing uncertainty regarding the ability to achieve further concessions in a strike.

A potential strike would present another setback for Boeing, which has already faced significant challenges. The company, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has incurred a loss of $27 billion since the beginning of 2019 and is grappling with both manufacturing issues and problems in its defense and space business. With a new CEO taking charge just over a month ago, the pressure is mounting for Boeing to rectify its weaknesses.

As news of the workers' discontent spreads, Boeing's shares have dropped by 3% in afternoon trading, reflecting the cautious sentiment among investors.

Boeing has yet to respond to requests for comment on the situation. The outcome of Thursday's vote will determine whether or not the workers proceed with a strike, potentially impacting the company's already challenging path to recovery.