One Strike May Be Forestalled As Others Loom... Oy!

It hasn't been a great year for Boeing on the labor front. Just as the manufacturer is publicizing its ongoing efforts in heading off a looming strike by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEAA) -- the union representing more than 17,500 engineering and technical employees working at Boeing facilities in Washington and Oregon -- threats of other, smaller strikes by members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) loom in the immediate future.

"These talks are important to all of us at Boeing because this is about how we recognize our technical team for their accomplishments, and how we work together—in an environment of respect—to secure a strong, competitive future for all of us," said Alan Mulally, Commercial Airplanes president and CEO, in a company press release discussing the latest in the SPEEA negotiations.

"We'll work with SPEEA to understand the important issues so we can make choices around priorities and put together a total package that works for employees and supports our business plan," he said.

As has been reported in Aero-News, Boeing is hoping the company's approach to SPEEA will help forestall another crippling strike such as the four-week walkout earlier this year by 18,400 members of IAMAW. The IAMAW strike shut down Boeing production lines just as the manufacturer was enjoying its best sales since 1999 -- a situation Boeing does not want repeated...

However, news of the SPEEA talks comes as IAMAW members in Huntsville and Decatur, AL, Huntington Beach and Torrance, CA, AND Cape Canaveral, FL are threatening to strike Wednesday if Boeing does not approve their new contract offer.

According to the Huntsville Times, a federal mediator has been called in to attempt to handle the California situation, although according to union spokesman Bob Wood those talks have nothing to do with workers in Alabama, which affects approximately 435 workers between the two plants. Approximately 1,000 workers in California and Florida would walk out as well... and so far, Boeing has said it has no intention of resuming discussions with any of them.

"I don't know why they're doing this," Wood said. "They should have learned from the [earlier] strike they brought on themselves last month, that machinists will not be played one against another. But if necessary we're more than ready to teach them that lesson again."

At issue in the negotiations are reduced health care benefits for employees, as well as changes the union maintains would pit older workers against younger workers and would change eligibility rules for retiree medical benefits.

A walkout by IAMAW workers in Alabama, Florida, and California would primarily affect Boeing's work in the space program, including the company's Delta 2 and Delta 4 programs. NASA was preparing to launch a scientific satellite aboard a Delta 2 rocket next week, although that mission has been scrubbed temporarily due to likelihood of a strike.

Linda James, a spokeswoman for Boeing's Huntsville plant, said the company believes it has made a fair offer that will help employees and the business. She also mentioned the possibility of moving nonstriking and salaried workers into jobs vacated by striking members.

"The company's position is their best course is to reduce long-term health care exposure for the company," James said.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.speea.org, www.iamaw.org