Negotiations between Spirit AeroSystems and its engineering union continue this week, but the union has a tough challenge ahead of it, Midwest director Bob Brewer said this morning.
The contract between Spirit engineers and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace expires July 11.
The talks took a “grim and disappointing” turn on Friday when discussions turned toward benefits and compensation, the union said.
“We were thoroughly surprised by the first run of the economic issues,” Brewer said.
SPEEA is continuing to work with the company, Brewer said. He is hopeful talks will conclude this week.
19 Comments
Go ahead SPEEA keep pushing and see how many jobs you can destroy. You need to remember that your jobs areant the only ones affected. You always affect the jobs of those who are truly happy to just have a job in these tough times. SPEEA is full of babies and I hope that some day someone stands up to these guys and says “You dont want a job on our terms, then hit the unemployment line”
Just remember SPEEA members, the union leadership works for you. Tell them exactly what your concerns are, which should now be employment and some sort of long-term stability, not stop work over impossible demands. If the Union guys can’t be responsive to your real needs, vote them out … it’s as simple as that.
glenlang77, jealous??
Considering that the other plane makers in Wichita are laying off engineers and techies, be VERY careful in these talks. There is becoming an abundance of technical people to draw from in Wichita. SPirit, you might be next to contribute to this abundance if you get too greedy.
Be thankful you still have a job!
Isn’t it funny that whenever anyone dares criticize the Union or the people who are in it, someone immediately jumps to the “You’re just jealous!” line? Grow up, people! Glenlang77 had a very calid point. It DOES affect the other people who work in the industry when they strike. It DOES affect families who are grateful to have a job right now. And there ARE more skilled people looking for work in our area than we normally have. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that that weakens your negotiating strength. Just be careful, and avoid greed. And yes, my husband is out at Spirit… I know our turn is coming up next year. I just hope people can be wise. I can wish the company will offer a great contract, but if not, the workers need to see the big picture.
redcoalcarpet.. Are you serious? I have no desire to have someone else negotiate my pay or my hours or my benefits. I am quite capable of doing that on my own unlike most of these SPEEA people.
Maybe the talks are “grim and disappointing” because the economy is grim and disappointing. Good luck improving your life in this environment. Good luck finding another job if you walk away from this one.
There is no way they would be stupid enough to strike. If you strike in the economy, no one will feel sorry for you, I promise you that. I’ve never been in the aircraft industry, however my brother started at Spirit about 3 years ago, actually doing a job that was meant for union workers. He had just gone through a 1 month class and knew more than some union members who had been there 15 years (I guess they really do just coast along)…they couldn’t handle the job so they gave it to my brother. I think his position is secure due to the fact no one else can do his job. He’s not in the union, but has been smart and put away a nice pile of cash in case his job gets held up because of greedy SPEEA employees.
“There is no way they would be stupid enough to strike.”
Lets think about this for a min… These are the same people that tried to block the Boeing sale and ended up loosing a ton of benefits, than ended up getting paid a truckload… these people vote constantly against their best interest…
I believe its called “Greed” Take take take, but never give an inch.
Let ‘em strike, I’m sure Spirit would have no trouble filling their positions with employees who are grateful to work for a great company, not spoiled union hacks who think they are owed a hand-out. Unions have long out-lived their usefulness…
pure greed. go on strike and i hope you lose EVERYTHING! Greedy dirtbags. you better just be thankful you have a job. IDIOTS!
speea has a particularly unique niche in the world of unions in that once you obtain an engeneering degree you are automaticly in the union and I’m not sure if you can opt out. SPEEA go away!! people do not need you meddling in their afairs your not doing anybody any good look what has happened to boeing. and boeing will be kicking another group, including engeneers to the curb this month!!PEOPLE WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO STOP LETTING STRANGERS NEGOTIATE YOUR WELL BEING.
if u belong to any union—u deserve to have no job. Remember–the mexicans are waiting—mcDonalds cant hire them all
Well, let’s see. Turner, and his gang, made oodles off of Spirit. Too, Onex, Goldman Sachs, and more took a bunch of money in the deal. It’s as if all of that vacuuming of bucks wasn’t driven by greed.
Spirit’s payout was very fortunately timed; perhaps, it’ll stand as an example for some time of things that can (and do) go wrong (except, for the favored few).
Isn’t it funny to hear ‘greed’ applied to the Union’s simple requests when looked at in the above context?
They should take what the company offers and drop to their knees to give thanks they have a job. These people are easily replaced with so many qualified men and women currently out of work.
navek, I can see you don’t know SPEEA. Those aren’t strangers negotiating for the engineers, it’s fellow engineers elected from the membership. Of course that’s also part of the problem, for all their good intentions, these engineers aren’t real negotiators, so stuff gets missed. The simple fact is that a big company is only going to deal with their employees collectively, so the employees have to deal with the company collectively.
Guess who is about to join the ranks of the unemployed ? Can you spell China ? Stupid is stupid but, this is crazy !!!!
Just watch – if they strike and lose their jobs United Way will open another center to support the strikers. Meanwhile, honest workers who lose their jobs but don’t have just the right layoff notice will be left out in the cold – again.