Boeing Risks Major Strike With SPEEA
September 18th, 2008
As initial talks got underway between Boeing and the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace’s (SPEEA), the executive director and chief union spokesman for negotiations, Ray Goforth was “disappointed” that Boeing had not addressed any item listed in the SPEEA’s Detailed Summary Proposal.
At a time when neither Boeing and the other major union currently on strike, the IAM, have not laid out any immediate plans to bring the industrial action to some sort of amicable conclusion, the opportunity to avert the SPEEA striking is a window that closes that little bit more as each day passes.
Image courtesy of the SPEEA
It could be argued that the SPEEA union seeks to put Boeing under pressure having seen the best and final offer overwhelmingly rejected by the IAM.
“During a time when the company is making record profits and securing record orders they should be talking about sharing that success with the employees who make it possible,” said Goforth.
Critically, Boeing maintains that its Platform For Discussions is not “a counter proposal” says Boeing’s Doug Kight. Already, the chorus from employees within Boeings two main unions are saying that the management has learnt nothing from the failed talks with the IAM and risks the first SPEEA union strike since 2000. There are just under 21,000 SPEEA members employed at Boeing, ranging from scientists, to engineers and technicians.
High level talks between the SPEEA and Boeing commence October 28, 2008, giving both sides just a little over four weeks to come to a new contract agreement before the expiry of the current deal on December 1st.
Image courtesy of Cargolux
With a record backlog damaged with the IAM on strike, a second major strike will severely impact all projections Boeing has for 2009.
For critical programmes like the 787 Dreamliner and 747-8F, Boeing can ill afford to have either of these delayed, especially in the case of the 787 which has already suffered three major setbacks.
In a brief statement, 747-8F launch customer Cargolux simply stated that “our top management has decided not to comment on these [Boeing strike] issues.“
The question is just how far is Boeing prepared to go to avert a second round of industrial action, while there is no resolution between itself and the IAM?
(Prior articles on the Boeing/IAM strike can be found by clicking these links here, here, here, here, here and here. )
Sphere: Related ContentEntry Filed under: Aerospace, Air Transport, Air Travel, Airlines, Airplane, Airplane Order, Airplanes, Airport, Airports, Alenia, Aviation, Boeing, Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 747-8, Boeing 747-8F, Boeing 747-8I, Boeing 777, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777F, Boeing 787, Boeing 787-3, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Boeing Orders, Cargolux, Dreamliner, Fuji Heavy Industries, Global Aeronautica, IAM, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, SPEEA, Scott Carson, Spirit AeroSystems, Travel, Vought
12 Comments Add your own
1. boeing investor | September 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
“These negotiations will end up in the same train wreck as they did with the machinists if they don’t change how they’re approaching us.”
Are you listening Boeing?
2. Seattle | September 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
For Boeing to respond to SPEEA’s detailed contract proposal with a vague purpose policy outlining its intention to seek a series of takeaways is a stunning failure of leadership.
Seeking takeaways from employees at a time when the company is doing great (and just gave a 230% bonus to CEO McNerny) is absurd. That’s just as absurd as a union seeking benefit increases when a company is struggling.
It’s almost as if Boeing management is deliberately trying to scuttle the company to cover-up the failures of the programs under their stewardship (787, 747-8, wedgetail, border fence, etc.).
3. mike j | September 18th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Sounds like de-ja-vu…
No, I don’t think Boeing is listening.
Maybe Boeing is trying to show the whole world just how unfair they are with their employees (maybe the IAM strike has some validity after all).
Yes, it is a stunning failure of leadership.
Rather sickening failure if I say so myself.
Perhaps also the USAF saw “something unpalitable” here too, maybe it was “something” the rest of us are just now beginning to see.
4. mike j | September 18th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
ps: perhaps Boeing management is deliberately trying to scuttle the company…
5. Neil A. | September 19th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Boeing seems to be happy with just final assembly.
Their actions are akin to removing all unions.
6. sky mapper | September 19th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Management has a duty to shareholders, so its easy to see why its viewed as being “against” the union(s).
Critically, Boeing didnty discuss the SPEEA points - thats not going to help.
Some may argue that the company seeks confrontation, no?
7. Ogre | September 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
At a time when Boeing stock should be going through the roof, it has lost 30% a share in the last 6 months, with unfortunately more to come. When I purchased Boeing stock, it was as a stable investment, not a bloodbath.
It just makes Boeing look bad, both to shareholders and by its employees. As a staffing analyst, what kind of lump sum bonus can Boeing pay that will make their employees who have been hired by other companies during the strike not want to stay with their new employers? The longer the strike lasts the more employees are going to leave. They will not be able to break the unions, only lose more trained employees.
8. Grace | September 19th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I thouught SPEEAS’ proposal waz better than iAM. Unfortuately no one is going to care. When can I wprl fpr them.
9. Jet Jockey | September 19th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
What in the heck is going on with Boeing leadership? I am also an investor and I’m just about ready to wring McNerny’s neck and the whole Boeing management team!!!!
10. DonS | September 20th, 2008 at 1:58 am
Well - Boeing leadership has a problem with SPEEA that this time that they didn’t have last time. A new Executive director who will nNot get a nifty leather jacket during negotiations for service to the Boeing company . The 2005 SPEEA negotiations were notable in at least two major areas. One was the sellout of retiree medical benefits for new hires after 2007, and the other was for an attempted sellout of older employees by pushing for conversion to the boeing cash balance plan - known as PVP . That sellout didn’t happen because the membership grokked the scam .
For those who may think the leather jacket awarded for 25 years of SERVICE to Boeing might have been improper, it was ! And for those who wonder about the 25 years of service award while only working full time for Boeing for 10 to 11 years, it was also improper, but worth a LOT more than the jacket.
Boeing did NOT treat SPEEA any better than the IAM this year, and generally not better in previous years. But that is not true of how Boeing previously treated the Former executive Director of SPEEA - a whole lot better than any IAM negotiator ! Proof follows
There were about 8 witnesses from the SPEEA Negotiation team to the award of a leather jacket to Mr Bofferding in late November 2005- During negotiations. Check with Ms Cole, Mr McCarty, Ms Moats, Mr Rice . .
Mr Bofferding admitted via email he got the 25 year service award in 2005 and a leather jacket during negotiations -
Witnesses were given to understand it was a pension credited service award.
In July of this year, In writing to the Boeing plan administrator asked several related questions - Under ERISA, they had 30 days to respond. Boeing has failed to do so
http://tinyurl.com/6×8alk
I contacted EBSA - [part of the DOL who handle ERISA issues] , - and they have been working the problem to get AN answer. A few hours ago [ Thursday 18 September ] , I got a call from the local office of EBSA. Mr Janetka of Boeing claims he sent me an answer on August 15th, [ Never received ] - EBSA was to fax his letter to me later today. Apparently BA said it did not have to answer my questions and that any info about an award to Mr Bofferding was Confidential. When I reminded the EBSA that there were other questions and that Boeing routinely publishes service awards of everyone in 5 year increments,- he immediately went to contact the Boeing Plan Admin [ Mr Janetka ] who made the unsubstantiated claim about sending me a letter on August 15th. I have not yet received a letter or a FAX.
http://tinyurl.com/25t94s
From Boeing Total Access in July of this year
Mr Shuper, I have researched the request 4194173 and I am forwarding the request and resolution. [Request ] How many years of credited service are required to have a choice of the ” centennial ” leather bomber jacket or equivalent value of service award points ?
Resolution: Good Day Mr. Shuper, Concerning the Centennial Bomber Jacket. Please note, the Centennial Bomber Jacket is available only at the Boeingstore.com and not within the Boeing Service Award program. The Centennial Bomber Jacket is currently listed on the Boeingstore.com for $229.00. To have an equal/greater value of Service Award credit available at the Boeingstore.com, one must have a 40 year service award available. If you have any further questions or require further assistance, please submit a ticket via Total Access.
Kind Regards, Shannon
Thank you, Boeing TotalAccess
Since that Jacket takes 40 years of service - even forgetting the pension credits - and it was given by a company agent - and was less than $$ 1000 , it becomes a misdemeanor - although there is a question of de-minimus and also being a sporadic gift, etc.
What do YOU think ???
29 U.S.C. 186 (Taft-Hartley Act Sec. 302)
Section 186(a) proscribes bribery, graft, and conflict-of-interest payments of money and other prohibited things of value to representatives of employees, labor union officials, and labor organizations by employers, and persons acting in the interest of employers, whose labor-management relations are governed by the Labor Management Relations Act (29 U.S.C. Sec. 141, et seq.).[FN1] The request or acceptance by any person of payments described in the statue is also prohibited. 29 U.S.C. Sec. 186(b)(1).[FN2] Federal courts have authority to enjoin violations of the statute in actions by private parties or the United States. 29 U.S.C. Sec. 186(e).[FN3] — goes on — but the message should be clear.
11. JOHN | December 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
BOEING ONLY CARES ABOUT PROFIT,PEOPLE DO NOT COUNT.
12. JOHN | December 23rd, 2008 at 12:11 am
MOST BOEING MANAGERS LIE TO THEIR EMPLOYEE`S,ALWAYS WORRING ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE.NO RESPERT FOR THEIR WORKERS. WHEY DO WANT WILL MAKE THEM LOOK GOOD.SOME MANAGER THAT LIE,HAVE GOT PROMOTIONS,WHLIE THE HOMEST EMPLOYEE IS WITHOUT A JOB.
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