Claims Infractions Took Place During Employee Orientation

Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges were filed Tuesday against The Boeing Company by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001. Charges were filed after union representatives said they heard company officials tell new employees they are prohibited from saying negative things about their employment. Such discussions by union members are protected by the National Labor Relation Act (NLRA). The union asserts that efforts to curb these discussions violate federal law.

The comments by a representative of Boeing Ethics occurred during a new employee orientation meeting on Friday (Aug. 17), according to SPEEA. In addition to this alleged violation of labor law, SPEEA has received numerous complaints from employees about managers telling them to remove and not display union material at their personal workstation. Employees also report finding union-related items removed from individual work areas when they arrive at work to start a new work day.

SPEEA is gathering additional information and has asked members to document and report any such conversations with managers or the removal of items from their desks.

SPEEA is presently negotiating new contracts with Boeing for 23,000 engineers and technical workers, primarily in the Puget Sound region. The union presented its full proposal to Boeing on June 15. The company has not yet presented a contract offer to the union. Existing contracts expire Oct. 6.

FMI: www.speea.org