Back To The Bargaining Table...

It's not what Boeing engineers in Wichita wanted, and they let the company know Thursday... but the workers, represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001, perhaps also realized this economy is no time to try to strike a company that's already laid off workers this year.

For the second time in this round of negotiations, workers at Boeing's Wichita Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) rejected a tentative contract agreement. According to SPEEA, the tally showed 68 percent of the voting members rejected the offer, with 180 members voting "No" and 84 voting "Yes" to accept the company's offer.

The vote on strike authorization was 45 percent for authorization, with 118 voting "Yes" and 140 voting "No" on granting strike authorization power to their Wichita Engineering Unit (WEU) Negotiation Team.

With a second rejection now in hand, negotiators for the 700 represented engineers will request the company return to negotiations and settle the unresolved issues.

Union leaders said difficult economic times played a significant role in members' decision... with both sides playing up the deepening recession as reason for their actions.

"The members have now rejected this contract twice," added Ray Goforth, SPEEA executive director. "We now hope Boeing will have enough respect for their workforce to sit down and negotiate a respectful contract."

Boeing issued a statement to The Associated Press late Thursday, reaffirming the contract was its "best and final" offer... though adding it would welcome the chance to meet with union leadership to 'clarify' its position.

Predictably, Boeing expressed disappointment the union rejected the offer. "However, we are pleased our employees recognize the importance of supporting our customers during this very challenging time, and chose not to authorize a strike," the company added.

Engineers have worked under a contract extension since December 5, when the existing contract was set to expire. The union states Boeing's new offer included 3 percent salary increase pools... offset by increased out-of-pocket medical costs and elimination of the pension for new employees.

SPEEA also questions whether Boeing may be interested in selling off the Wichita facility to another party. While acknowledging Boeing has denied the IDS plant is for sale... the union also notes Boeing refused to provide any worker protections in the event the plant is sold or divested.

FMI: www.boeing.com/ids, www.speea.org