Boeing

Yesterday the Seattle Professional Engineering Employees Association (SPEEA) filed an unfair labor practice charge against Boeing with the National Labor Relations Board regarding the recently announced joint venture with FlightSafety International. The charge alleges that Boeing is conducting individual bargaining with SPEEA-represented employees and removing work from the bargaining unit. SPEEA is also seeking an injunction that would prevent Boeing from proceeding further with the joint venture.

"We are disappointed that SPEEA felt the need to file an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB," said Sants Contreras, Company Offices director of SPEEA relations.

Boeing notified the executive director of SPEEA on Monday, March 10 at 2 p.m. about Boeing's intent to launch the joint venture. On Thursday, March 13, Boeing and SPEEA began discussions on the effects of the joint venture on SPEEA-represented employees. Representatives from the company and union met again Monday to continue these discussions. Another joint meeting is planned for this Friday.

"We recognize our obligation to engage in these discussions with the union and welcome the opportunity to do so," Contreras said. "We have worked very hard over the last three years to build a strong, cooperative relationship with SPEEA, and we hoped to have more time to meet with the union on their concerns before they took this type of action."

No one will lose a job as a result of this joint venture. Every employee will have a choice. Boeing is committed to retraining and reassigning employees who choose not to join the new venture for available work.

Boeing will communicate more information on this subject as it becomes available.