Category Archives: unions

SPEEA: Boeing to cut engineers and technical workers in the Northwest as it strives to send more work to Moscow

April 19, 201310:38 a.m.

Boeing is pushing to send more engineering and technical work to its Moscow Design Center as it plans to cut its engineering and technical workforce in the Pacific Northwest, according to the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace.

Boeing said this week that it plans to cut its engineering and technical workforce by 1,500 to 1,700 people in the Northwest.

“We find it extremely disappointing that Boeing Commercial Airplanes is actively outsourcing engineering work to the Moscow Design Center while laying off employees in the Northwest,” said Ray Goforth, SPEEA executive director, said in a statement.

SPEEA is working to get more information.

The action to cut the workforce could result in 700 layoffs, SPEEA said.

The union and Boeing managers are helping employees find new positions within the company.

 

 

 

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing, unions | Comments

SPEEA presents Boeing with a contract proposal for technical and engineering workers

Jan. 17, 201310:41 a.m.

Boeing and its engineers and technical union are back at the negotiating table Thursday after the union presented the company with a proposal to incorporate areas of agreement from the ongoing contract negotiations and extend the contracts for another four years.

The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace presented Boeing with the offer during negotiations on Wednesday with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

An agreement between the parties would stem off a strike by 23,000 engineers and technical workers in two SPEEA units in Washington, Oregon and Utah.

In October, engineers rejected Boeing’s offer of a contract by 95.5 percent; technical workers rejected it by 97 percent.

Since negotiations resumed this month, union members have increased preparations for a potential work stoppage.

A strike would impact Spirit AeroSystems, which builds parts of all Boeing commercial airliners.

“These negotiations have been going on for more than a year,” Tom McCarty, SPEEA president, said in a statement. “At this point, we should move forward with the items upon which we can agree, and leave the status quo in place for the remaining items.”

SPEEA also asked Boeing to continue to meet with a federal mediator “to tackle the difficult issues that have proven so divisive in these negotiations,” the union said in a statement.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing, unions | Comments Off

Spirit AeroSystems, engineering union reach tentative contract agreement

Nov. 30, 20122:44 p.m.

Spirit AeroSystems and its engineering union have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract, the two announced Friday.

The agreement between the company and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace’s Wichita Engineering Unit was reached late Thursday.

Union negotiators and its council unanimously recommend acceptance.

SPEEA represents 811 engineers at Spirit.

The company’s offer includes a minimum salary guarantee fund of 3 percent in the second and fourth year of the contract, with funds in the remaining years to be based on the market, said Bob Brewer, SPEEA Midwest director.

It also includes compensated travel time, increases to an incentive award plan, $2,500 ratification bonus, financial incentives to reduce employees’ cost of insurance premiums, premium-free dental coverage and improvement on job security issues and outsourcing, Brewer said.

Under the proposal, engineers would pay 15 percent of the cost of insurance premiums next year, followed by 16 percent in 2014, 18 percent in 2015 and 20 percent in the remaining years.

At the same time, the plan offers better coverage and lower co-pays and deductibles, Brewer said.

“I think without a doubt, the two teams worked very well together,” Brewer said. “We had a common goal and objective to get this done right the first time.”

Main table negotiations began Oct. 29. Both sides have been meeting in subcommittees since Sept. 12.

SPEEA members vote on whether to accept the proposal Dec. 11 at Curtis Middle School at 1031 S. Edgemoor.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with a meeting at 5:00. Voting concludes after the meeting.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aviation industry, Spirit AeroSystems, unions | Comments Off

Machinists union negotiators enter federal mediation over Learjet strike

Nov. 7, 20122:28 p.m.

With a strike at Bombardier Learjet in its fifth week, the Machinists union’s negotiating committee entered into federal mediation on Wednesday, the union said on its website.

George Cohen, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service director, said in a statement Friday that the mediation service has asked the company and the union to return to negotiations with federal mediators. The two parties agreed.

The FMCS, the union and the company also agreed not to make any public comment until further notice, Cohen said in a statement.

Learjet Machinists struck the company Oct. 8 after members rejected its proposal of a five-year labor agreement and voted for a work stoppage. The biggest issue was substantial cost increases in medical insurance.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Bombardier Learjet, unions | Comments Off

Machinists negotiators recommend rejection of Learjet labor contract and a strike

Oct. 4, 201211:35 a.m.

Negotiators for the Machinists union recommend its members at Bombardier Learjet reject the company’s proposal of a five-year labor contract and vote to strike when they go to the polls on Saturday.

The offer gives no raises in the first year of the contract and a 1 percent raise in each of the four years after.

It retains pension plans for the represented workers, but increases health care costs dramatically, said union spokesman Bob Wood.

A main sticking point is the increase in health insurance costs, Wood said. The union also dislikes the length of the contract.

The company kept noting how the market for business jets is weak, Wood said.

But it will turn around, he said.

In the meantime,”they’re trying to lock us in,” he said.

A three-year agreement would be better because the situation could be readdressed at that time.

Union members are scheduled to vote at the Cotillion Ballroom on Saturday.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Bombardier Learjet, Uncategorized, unions | Comments Off

SPEEA recommends members at Boeing in Puget Sound reject contract offer

Sept. 18, 201210:58 a.m.

Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace negotiators are recommending that members of its professional and technical unit in Puget Sound reject Boeing’s offer of a labor contract.

SPEEA bargaining unit council members voted unanimously to recommend rejection.

The union says that the offer includes wage pools that are the lowest since 1975, and that the offer increases costs for medical benefits, changes retireee benefits and eliminates disability and life insurance benefits for those on military leave.

The union represents 23,000 professional and technical workers at Boeing in Puget Sound.

Votes will be counted Oct. 1. Members aren’t voting on whether to strike.

A strike vote could come later, the union said.

“A strong rejection of these contract offers will send a loud message to Boeing corporate leaders that they must return to negotiations ready to actually negotiate a contract that respects our contributions,” union leaders said in a statement.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Boeing, unions | Comments Off

Frank Molina replacing long-time Machinists District 70 president Steve Rooney

May 11, 201210:20 a.m.

Frank Molina has been elected president and directing business representative of the Machinists Union District 70, replacing Steve Rooney, who has held the position for about a dozen years.

The change is the result of a vote by Machinist union members. Results are posted on the union’s website.

Lynne Strickland was elected District 70 secretary-treasurer.

District 70 business representatives elected or re-elected include Becky Ledbetter, Tony Larkin, Rita Rogers, Steve Elder, Greg Treadwell and Brent Allen.

Molina is a former union business representative for Cessna Aircraft.

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, unions | Comments Off

Tabulating problem delays results of Machinists union District 70 elections

May 1, 20123:13 p.m.

A tabulating problem has delayed results of elections Saturday for leaders of the Machinists union District 70.

Members of the Machinists union vote for the staff every four years.

Up for election were president and directing business representative, a post held by Steve Rooney; assistant directing business representative, held by Rita Rogers; and five business representatives, positions held by Mike Burleigh, Steve Groom, Tony Larkin, Becky Ledbetter and Shaun Junkins. The secretary/treasurer’s position was also up for election, a position held by Judy Pierce, who is retiring.

“The votes … will be counted and the final results of the elections will be posted as soon as possible,” the union said on its District 70 website.

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aviation industry, unions | Comments Off

Spirit AeroSystems’ engineering union sets timeline for contract talks

April 10, 20126:22 a.m.

Spirit AeroSystems and its engineering union won’t open contract talks until later in the year, but work has already begun.

The union, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace,  plans to have a proposal ready to present the company sometime in August.

Three negotiating team members, who are Spirit engineers and SPEEA members, will take contract negotiation training in June.

In late August, the union plans to move into subcommittee meetings before full negotiations begin.

The current contract expires Dec. 2. SPEEA represents nearly 800 Spirit engineers in Wichita.

The biggest issues and priorities are related to salary, job advancement, benefits and retirement, said Bob Brewer, SPEEA’s Midwest director.

“They’re losing a ton of engineers right now,” Brewer said, with attrition in the double digits.

“There’s a lot of pressure,” he said. “New programs have them in a bind for whatever reason. There’s a lot of pressure to meet targets. I’m not saying it’s wrong, but there’s some atmosphere.”

In addition, the engineering market is picking up, Brewer said.

“The market for engineering remains very competitive,” said Ken Evans, a Spirit spokesman. “As our numerous new programs get closer to production, we are working hard to balance our needs and resources both locally and with our engineering partners around the world.”

 

 

 

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Spirit AeroSystems, unions | Comments Off

SPEEA, Boeing meet on potential future of Wichita’s plant

Dec. 1, 20115:27 p.m.

Boeing‘s engineering union met with company officials today on the future of the Wichita plant, but the union was frustrated by the outcome.

“It was a disappointing meeting,”  said Bob Brewer, Midwest director of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace.”We had lots of questions and few answers.”

Last week, Boeing said it was studying the future of the plant, which includes whether to close it. The study is expected to be complete by the end of the year or early next year.

SPEEA met in Wichita with Boeing officials from Chicago and Seattle. Local Boeing executives were not present, Brewer said.

“They made it clear that the exercise and analysis being performed has nothing to do with the quality of the work here with the engineering community,” Brewer said. “It’s strictly a business decision.”

The study is looking at the size, capabilities and capacity of the site, he said.

SPEEA also asked whether the study includes a complete closure or the possibility of leaving an engineering and design facility here, Brewer said.

“We couldn’t get an answer,” he said.

They also asked whether the union and employees could do anything that would have an impact on the company’s decision, Brewer said. “No, not really was the basic answer.”

Otherwise, no information beyond what the company said last week came out during the meeting, Brewer said.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under Boeing, unions | Comments Off