Boeing and its engineering union remain far apart on nailing down an acceptable contract offer, the union said.
On Thursday, the two sides discussed the contract’s duration, medical coverage and sick leave and vacation. Boeing has proposed various contract lengths, a plan the union considers a move to separate Wichita engineers from agreements forged with their peers in Seattle. While each group works under a separate agreement, many items are the same.
“While we have seen some movement by Boeing (on Thursday), significant issues and gaps remain and must be worked out before negotiations can conclude,” SPEEA said.
Boeing and the union, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, are in the midst of contract negotiations. SPEEA represents about 700 engineers at Boeing Wichita.
Negotiations have “soured,” the union said.
Boeing is risking delays to its programs in Wichita and in Puget Sound because of what its engineering union calls an “insulting” initial contract proposal.
SPEEA is planning a “work-to-rule” campaign for 21,000 represented engineers and technical workers in Wichita and in Washington, Oregon, California and Utah, it said. “Work-to-rule” means employees meticulously follow all workplace procedures, safety rules and contract terms, checking and double-checking things. It has the potential to slow things down, said SPEEA spokesman Bill Dugovich.
The union has asked represented engineers to start declining management’s requests to work voluntary overtime and cites the bargaining agreement.
SPEEA said it plans to present its response to the company today.
