The Northwest Membership Activities Committee is hosting Santa Day at the Puget Sound SPEEA Halls. Members and their families (pets too) can stop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for free photos with Santa and enjoy a holiday treat and activities for the kids.
The fun begins Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Tukwila Hall and continues Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Everett Hall. Pets are welcome after 12 p.m.
See the Facebook Event for more info - click here.
IFPTE mourns the tragic loss of Local 121 members
WASHINGTON, DC – The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) released the following statement in response to yesterday’s shooting at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard:
“The officers, members and staff of IFPTE send our deepest condolences to the families of the three IFPTE Local 121 members who were the victims of a senseless shooting that occurred yesterday afternoon at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii. It is with great sadness to report that two of the three workers have passed away, while the third worker remains hospitalized. These victims are not only dedicated IFPTE union members, they are hard-working public servants who go to work each day to serve the taxpayers and our military forces. They are reflective of the thousands of workers at Pearl Harbor and elsewhere that go to work to earn a living and serve their nation.
“No worker should have to go to work without the expectation of safely returning to their family and loved ones. IFPTE not only stands ready to assist these IFPTE represented families during this difficult time, we also send our deepest sympathies to their families, and all of our Sisters and Brothers at Local 121.”
SPEEA showed its support for nurses holding informational picketing at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw, Washington on Wednesday (Dec. 4). Nurses from SEIU Healthcare 1199NW are in their seventh month of contract negotiations with CHI Franciscan Health. Shown from SPEEA are Elaine Carlson, Kaitlin Plunkett, Rich Plunkett and Council Rep. Terry Tomt whose spouse Sherry is a nurse at St. Elizabeth. The union is seeking safe staffing levels, affordable health insurance and wages that retain qualified staff.
IFPTE Executive Council discusses major issues
At the fall/winter IFPTE Executive Council meeting, SPEEA Area vice presidents are shown here from left: SPEEA President Joel Funfar, IFPTE President Paul Shearon, SPEEA Area Rep Ronda Cockrell, SPEEA Secretary Ryan Rule and IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Matt Biggs. At the meeting, held twice a year, the officers and vice presidents discuss major issues affecting members in public, federal and private sectors. Goto www.ifpte.org for more information.
WTPU contract ballots due 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10
Members of the SPEEA Wichita Technical and Professional Unit (WTPU) are now voting on the contract offer from Spirit AeroSystems.
Voting packages started arriving at members’ homes this week. Look for the envelope marked ‘WTPU CONTRACT BALLOT ENCLOSED.’ Your packet includes instructions, letter of recommendation from the WTPU Negotiation Team and Bargaining Unit Council, contract offer highlights, ballot and a postage-paid return envelope.
Ballots are due at the SPEEA Midwest office or in the P.O. Box by 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10.
The Boeing Company sent out an erroneous message Oct. 15 titled: "A Task Awaits You: Complete Self Evaluation for Performance Review - 2019."
This DOES NOT apply to SPEEA members. You DO NOT need to complete this task.
However, it appears that because of bad software design, your manager cannot evaluate you until after something has been submitted by the employee. If you submit a blank self-evaluation, that should let your manager complete their tasks.
Once again, this self-evaluation IS NOT part of the SPEEA process.
Open house for new CREATE office in Seal Beach
Otniel Pavia, left, Randy Morgan, center, and John Williams are shown above at the newly opened office of California Region Engineers and Technical Employees in Seal Beach. They joined dozens of activists, community members and employees wanting to learn more about having a voice at the office’s open house Oct. 9.
SEAL BEACH, Calif. – Non-union employees in Southern California came together to celebrate their new office as efforts to build a union gain altitude.
Activists, community members and employees wanting to learn more about having a voice at work celebrated at the open house in Seal Beach, Oct. 9.
The new office coincides with growing momentum to organize professionals working at Boeing in Southern California.
Professionals at Boeing Seal Beach contacted SPEEA to help them form their union. The workers wanted to have a local identity and came up with CREATE (California Region Engineers and Technical Employees) to represent all technical and professional employees at the site.
SPEEA Treasurer Jimmie Mathis attended the open house along with staff, including Rich Plunkett, an experienced negotiator, and Matt Kempf, SPEEA’s senior director of compensation and retirement.
More labor support for CREATE
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) international union representing more than 63,000 members in the industry wrote a letter in support of CREATE’s organizing efforts.
Another letter of support came from the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) representing 11,000 employees at the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense.
Memorandum of Understanding SPEEA secures bonuses for 737 MAX work
in Moses Lake
SPEEA-represented employees who take a temporary assignment in Moses Lake as part of the return to service of the 737 MAX will be in line to receive “completion bonuses” of 10% to 20%, as outlined in a recently negotiated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
“It’s encouraging the company recognizes the need for the experience and expertise in our members to return the MAX to service,” said SPEEA President Joel Funfar. “Given the extended time members will be away from family, these bonuses are appropriate.”
The date for the 737 MAX’s return is still unknown. However, Boeing has publicly announced that preparing the idle aircraft to return to service will require temporarily assigning some SPEEA-represented employees to Moses Lake. The company also plans to hire some temporary employees for the work at Moses Lake. Boeing is currently parking aircraft at Moses Lake and plans to use the facility for work needed to return the 737 MAX to customers.
Bonuses will be paid to employees who complete 6-month assignments as part of the 737 MAX work. A 10% bonus will be paid after six months. An additional 15% bonus is paid during months 7 through 12 and 20% after 18 months.
Boeing has not yet announced what SPEEA job codes will be needed in Moses Lake. When the jobs are announced, interested bargaining unit members will need to volunteer and be accepted for the assignments.
Non-Boeing labor Assistance needed for SPEEA grievance
SPEEA has filed a grievance in association with Boeing’s use of Purchased Services (non-Boeing labor) to perform bargaining unit work.
When corporate management refused to provide relevant data associated with our investigation/grievance, SPEEA was also compelled to file an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with Region 19 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Employees recently received a notice as part of the settlement of the ULP and Boeing has begun to supply SPEEA with the requested information. The grievance is scheduled to be resolved in an arbitration hearing beginning in October.
Now, we need your help in validating claims made by management and/or contained within the provided data.
If any SPEEA members work with representatives from the following companies, we would really like to speak with you. Email PSGrievance@speea.org with your contact information and the best time to reach you.
Members of the SPEEA Wichita Technical and Professional Unit (WTPU) are now voting on the contract offer from Spirit AeroSystems.
