SPEEA Issues Strike Vote As Talks With Boeing Continue

In a twist of events in the ongoing contract talks between Boeing and SPEEA, the aerospace firms second biggest union said that its council had authorised its members to vote for strike action.

Coming hot on the heels as production resumes at the two key facilities in Everett and Renton, a new bout of industrial action would undo the efforts of the company having only recently settled a dispute with the IAM union.

“A great deal of progress has been made,” said SPEEA Executive Director and Chief Spokesperson Ray Goforth.

“It would be unfortunate for customers, shareholders and employees of Boeing if we can’t reach a deal at the bargaining table.”

Image courtesy of SPEEA

In a statement, Boeing’s Doug Kight said that “the talks were focused on bridging the distance between the company and the union, differences remain over economic issues.“

Boeing spokeswoman Karen Fincutter said the SPEEA decree to seek a strike vote was “a procedural matter”.

Some SPEEA members are concerned that the union is going down the same path as the IAM had, with a similar outcome.

One SPEEA member  asked - “Isn’t it better to continue talks rather than issue authorisation to strike before a deal has been reached or otherwise?

Why the sudden rush for this when talks haven’t collapsed. Its concerning [SPEEA is] taking this step.“

A final offer has yet to go out, but with differences between to the two sides taking the main stage, it is uncertain whether any ballot would favour strike action, especially when talks between the two sides have not yet been exhausted.

(Prior articles on the Boeing/IAM/SPEEA strike/discussions can be found by clicking these links here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.)

1 comment November 14th, 2008