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.