Votes To Be Tallied Today

Votes were cast yesterday by SPEEA union members at Boeing's Wichita facility, as the debate over a proposed three-year labor contract drew to an end. The final tally will determine if Boeing Wichita's second-largest union will accept or reject the company's offer. Saying the proposal is inferior to what Boeing has given other groups of workers, leaders of the union -- the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace -- were recommending that workers reject the proposal. If it was indeed rejected, the two sides would have to return to the bargaining table for additional discussion. However, the gamble is high, as there are no guarantees the subsequent talks would produce a better offer for the workers.

"Our best and final offer is what we've put forth based on industry and market realities," Boeing Wichita spokesman Fred Solis said in a statement.

Boeing's proposal calls for:

• A wage increase pool of 3.5 percent in the first year of the contract and 3 percent in each of the next two years. Guaranteed wage increases for each worker would be $750 in the first year and $500 in the second. There are no guarantees in the third year.
• A 3 percent signing bonus.
• Increases in the amount workers pay for two of the three available health care plans. In a traditional plan, family coverage would rise from $30 per month to $156 per month, while costs for a single employee would rise from $10 to $52. A no-cost plan is available.
• Increases in the amount employees can contribute to a retirement plan.
• Increases in retirement benefits from $50 per year of service to $60 per year of service by 2006.

The soon-to-expire contract (the bargaining unit's first labor agreement) was negotiated and approved by the SPEEA membership in 2001. In another close election, the Boeing Wichita workers in the proposed unit voted in favor of union representation in 2000.

FMI: www.speea.org