SEATTLE (AP) - Ballots were prepared Monday for contract ratification voting by nearly 21,000 Boeing Co. engineers and technical workers as contract talks began for Boeing engineers in Wichita, Kan.

Tentative agreement was reached Friday on a four-year deal between Boeing and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace that includes wage increases averaging 5 percent a year, higher pension payments and improvements in medical coverage with small cost increases for employees.

Ballots were being mailed Monday and must be returned by mail in time to be counted the night of Dec. 1, when both current contracts expire, SPEEA spokesman Bill Dugovich said.

Union leaders have recommended approval of both agreements, one covering nearly 14,200 scientists, engineers and other professionals and the other is nearly 6,700 manual writers, computer technicians and other hourly workers. Nearly 20,000 are in the Seattle area and about 550 are in Utah, California and Oregon.

Approval would avert the possibility of a second major strike at Boeing following an eight-week Machinists union walkout that ended Nov. 2.

Meanwhile, contract negotiations covering about 700 Boeing engineers in Wichita began Monday, four days later than originally scheduled, Boeing spokesman Jarrod S. Bartlett said. That contract expires Dec. 5 and covers mostly work on military projects. The Seattle agreements cover both commercial airplanes and military work.