Fri, Jan 06, 2012
Work To Be Dispersed To Washington State, Oklahoma, And San
Antonio
The union representing engineers at The Boeing Company is
calling on the company to meet all commitments to employees here
who worked diligently to help secure the $35 billion U.S. Air Force
KC-767 tanker program only to learn this morning their plant is
being shuttered and their work is going elsewhere.
A meeting is being scheduled with Boeing to start effects
bargaining for the 550 engineers represented by the Society of
Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE
Local 2001. “We’ve begun talking to Boeing
immediately,” said SPEEA President Tom McCarty. “We
will be working very hard to find the best outcome for the people
we represent at Boeing Wichita.”
While noting there are not a lot of answers yet, McCarty said
the union is getting the pieces in place to do everything it can to
help members transfer to new jobs, relocate or meet other career
needs. McCarty said the company also needs to pay attention to
retaining the skills of its Wichita engineers. “These
engineers are experts in their fields and Boeing can’t afford
to lose those skills,” McCarty said.
In September, Wichita engineers agreed to a two-year contract
extension with Boeing. Originally set to expire Dec. 2, 2011, the
contract locks in terms through Dec. 2, 2013.
Wichita Boeing was slated to do the final modifications on the
KC-767 tanker after the planes were assembled in Everett,
Washington. During an all-employee meeting at the Wichita plant
this morning, Boeing officials said tanker work will land in
Everett, Washington. Other programs from Wichita will go to
Oklahoma City and San Antonio, Texas. Boeing said the transition
begins in the third quarter of 2012.
In addition to refueling tankers, recent work at the Wichita
plant includes B-52 modifications, maintaining Air Force One, and
the 737 Wedgetail program.
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