Thousands of Boeing employees have voted to strike, halting production of the company's best-selling aircraft.

The vote means that about 33,000 workers who produce Boeing's 737 MAX and other aircraft in the Seattle and Portland areas will walk off the job on Friday after rejecting a collective bargaining agreement.

The deal would have included a 25 percent wage increase, a $3,000 signing bonus and a commitment to build Boeing's next commercial jet in the Seattle area. But workers rejected the deal after demanding a 40 percent wage increase.

“It's about respect, it's about dealing with the past, and it's about fighting for our future,” said Jon Holden, who led the negotiations for the International Federation of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

He added: “We are striking at midnight.”

94.6 percent of Boeing workers rejected the collective agreement, 96 percent were in favor of a strike.

This is breaking news. More to follow.