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.
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