10:53 AM EDT, 07/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Boeing's ( BA ) Washington state factory workers will vote Wednesday on granting their union authority to strike if a new contract isn't in place by Sept. 12 when the current one expires, the aircraft manufacturer said.

Up to 30,000 employees, responsible for crafting Boeing's ( BA ) 737 MAX and other aircraft, will gather at Seattle's T-Mobile Park to show support as they push for a 40% wage increase, Reuters report Wednesday.

Boeing ( BA ) said contract negotiations are ongoing, describing the strike authorization vote as a procedural step that doesn't mean a strike will occur.

"We remain confident we can reach a deal that balances the needs of our employees and the business realities we face as a company," the company said Wednesday in a statement to MT Newswires. "When union members vote on a new contract offer in September, they will be asked to take a second vote on whether or not to strike if the contract is voted down."

Shares of Boeing ( BA ) rose 0.3% in recent trading Wednesday.

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