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Support striking OPEIU members on Mercer Island

MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — Members from SPEEA, ILWU, Ironworkers, the Washington State Labor Council and other organizations showed support at a noon rally Thursday for striking workers who administer health and pension benefits for thousands of union members in the Pacific Northwest. – including about one-half of SPEEA staff members.

The strike, now in its third week, started after nearly a year of negotiations with the Welfare and Pension Administrative Services Inc. (WPAS). Union members rejected two contract offers before ending talks on Wednesday, August 23.

Management's regressive
contract offers included:

Eliminating seniority rights
Eliminating union dues deductions
Eliminating caps on medical premium cost share increases
Cuts to health benefits with increased out-of-pocket costs to members
Refusal to contribute to 401(k) benefits after workers were forced to give up their existing pension last year.

SPEEA members and staff were among the labor allies who attended a noon rally on Thursday to show support for OPEIU Local 8 member on strike at the Welfare and Pension Administrative Service, Inc. on Mercer Island.

Download the strike information flier

Voice Support!
Call Welfare & Pension Inc. owners and tell them to settle a fair contract!
Richard Kafer – 1-800-732-1121 or 206-441-7574, ext. 3940
Dennis Kirkpatrick– 1-800-732-1121 or 206-441-7574, ext. 3920
Tony Ibrahim– 1-800-732-1121 or 206-441-7574, ext. 3100

Show your Support!

Visit the picket line at the WPAS office at 7525 SE 24th St. in Mercer Island. Pickets are active from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Midwest members 'Race for Freedom' to stop human trafficking

WICHITA — About 80 SPEEA members, family and friends teamed up for the Race for Freedom in Wichita to end human trafficking. Members of the SPEEA ‘Because People Matter’ team are shown here. A total of 1,086 runners/walkers took part in the event at Carpenter Place Sept. 9. SPEEA is a major sponsor the annual event organized by ICT-S.O.S. The proceeds this year benefit Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center.

IFPTE STANDS WITH TEXAS

Hurricane Harvey has tragically devastated southeast Texas, and our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific event. As we continue to extend our thoughts and prayers to those affected, IFPTE humbly asks you to consider making a financial donation to the Texas AFL-CIO Workers Relief Fund.

While there is great need to assist the citizens of Houston and the surrounding jurisdictions, IFPTE stands in solidarity with the Texas AFL-CIO to support union workers affected by this calamity.

As you give, we ask that you consider directing some of your giving to the Texas AFL-CIO Workers Relief Fund to assist our union brothers and sisters during their time of need. The Texas Workers Relief Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable fund overseen by the Texas AFL-CIO that will provide direct help to union families in need who have been impacted by the storm.

Please help if you can. Go to www.texasaflcio.org/donate. Any amount would be appreciated.

Plan to attend an upcoming SPEEA event!

Check out the fun events planned by and for SPEEA members, families and friends. Events are planned throughout the Northwest and Midwest regions. Sign-up information is on the SPEEA calendars. New events are added regularly. Look for them on the Events page, regional calendars and on workplace bulletin boards. Members can also ask their Council Reps and local Area Rep to forward the Monday email that lists all SPEEA events for the week.

Northwest

Bowling with NW WAC members - Tech City Bowl, Kirkland, Saturday, Sept. 16

Midwest

MW Golf Tournament – Augusta Country Club, Sept. 19

More information on the Events Page or NW Calendar and MW Calendar.

Eligibility extended two years
Trade Act Assistance available for laid-off Boeing workers

Workers laid-off by The Boeing Company in Washington state through August 9, 2019, are eligible to apply for training, income support, and other benefits through the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance program (TAA or "Trade Act").

The eligibility dates were recently extended an additional two years as a result of a petition to the U.S. Labor Department by the International Association of Machinists (IAM), District Lodge 751 in partnership with SPEEA, IFPTE Local 2001.

Laid-off workers will receive a letter detailing the benefits steps to apply for assistance.

Since Washington state extended the aerospace tax preferences (tax breaks) in November, 2013 to Boeing and the aerospace industry with the agreed intent to “maintain and grow Washington’s aerospace workforce” more than 3,500 SPEEA-represented employees have been laid off by the company. The most recent figures from July show that overall Boeing has shed 15,828 jobs from its Washington state workforce since the tax breaks were extended.

Additional information to help members facing layoff is available on the following SPEEA web pages:

Trade Act Benefits Overview

Layoff information

Jobs for aerospace workers

Statement from the IFPTE
International Federation condemns hatred and violence

The SPEEA Council passed motions as recently as May, 2017 (M17-014) condemning violence and threats of violence against individuals or organizations. SPEEA supports peaceful demonstration.

IFPTE condemns the violent beliefs and horrific acts of white supremacists and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia this past weekend.

We stand in solidarity with the courageous residents and community members, anti-racism activists, and religious groups who assembled to defend Charlottesville from racist groups and individuals who seek to turn back the progress American society has made in addressing discrimination and institutional racism. We mourn the deaths of Heather Heyer, killed in an act of racist terrorism, and Virginia State Trooper Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates, who died in a police helicopter crash in near Charlottesville.

Labor rights are civil rights and human rights, and the labor movement’s efforts to realize fairness and justice in the workplace are inseparable from our commitment to oppose racism, discrimination and white-supremacy. As stated in IFPTE’s 2015 resolution in support of Black Lives Matter, racial inequality has always been a tool of those who wish to weaken and divide working people.

Realizing a fair and just society requires the labor movement to oppose the violent acts and the rhetoric of racial prejudice but we must also dismantle structural racial inequality and make sure that public services serve all of our communities and community members.

Read the statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

Contract benefit
Resume and job-search workshops available at Ed Wells Partnership

Ed Wells Partnership (EWP) recently added a number of resume and job-search workshops to its list of offerings. The workshops provide information about how to be successful searching for new jobs within Boeing.

Complete information and registration is available on the Boeing intranet http://edwells.web.boeing.com/TransitionResources/.

SPEEA Locations

SPEEA Headquarters
15205 52nd Ave S
Seattle, WA 98188

Tel: (206) 433-0991
Fax: (206) 248-3990

Office Hours:
Mon - Thurs 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Everett Hall
2414 106th Street SW
Everett, WA 98204

Tel: (425) 355-2883
Toll Free: (877) 355-2883
Fax: (425) 355-9380

Office Hours:
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Wichita Hall
4621 E. 47th St. South
Wichita, KS 67210

Tel: (316) 682-0262
Fax: (316) 682-4668

Office Hours:
Mon - Thurs 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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