The Northwest Membership Activities Committee (MAC) hosted free photos with Santa at the Everett Hall for SPEEA members and their families, Dec. 1. Over 30 families participated this year. SPEEA member Guillermo Martinez brought his 6-month-old triplet girls (shown here) Eva, Elena and Emilia.

Santa Day at SPEEA Tukwila

Saturday, Dec. 8
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pets welcome between 12 and 2 p.m. Food bank donations accepted. Refreshments provided.

Dwight Rousu, steering board chair, addresses a meeting of the Engineering Retirees Society (ERS) at SPEEA headquarters in Tukwila on Thursday, Dec. 6. Open to retired SPEEA members, ERS meets quarterly to rally support for legislation that protects retiree benefit plans, including pensions, Medicare and Social Security. ERS President and Past SPEEA President Tom McCarty is at top left of photo. General meetings are held quarterly at SPEEA. Learn more about ERS at www.engineeringretirees.org.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/5531918272057750531

With retirement seminars at SPEEA halls in December full, members of the Prof and Tech bargaining units can still receive updated information about Boeing’s pension and 401(k) changes in 2019 by watching an updated webinar.

Matt Kempf, SPEEA senior director of compensation and retirement, created the webinar to highlight the Boeing Company Employee Retirement Plan (BCERP) soft-freeze on credited service, the 401(k) changes to standardize matching contributions and other changes, including the new Supplemental Savings Plan (SSP).

The webinar was created to meet the increasing need by members for retirement information. Additional information was included in the November issue of SPEEA Spotlite – also available on the website under the Communications tab. In 2019, be aware of changes for the Profs and Techs regarding negotiated retirement benefits.

Changes include:

• Boeing Company Employee Retirement Plan (BCERP) soft freeze on credited service
• 401(k) matching changes to standardize matching contributions to 75% of first 8%
• Special Company Retirement Contribution to vary based on the most recent hire date
• Supplemental Savings Plan available for those that may hit overall 415(c) IRS limits on 401(k) contributions.

The 2019 SPEEA retirement seminar schedule is now available online  (drop-down menu: Medical/Retirement).

SPEEA is looking for members interested in leading their union to fill three Northwest regional vice president seats and one Midwest seat on the Executive Board.

Keep in mind

• Eligibility – A candidate must be a member in good standing for the
  previous 24-month period.
  
  
• Candidate information booklet – Candidate requirements as well as a
  petition are included in the Executive Board election information booklet.
  
  
• Timeline – The earliest date to submit a petition is Jan. 9. Deadlines are outlined in the election information booklet.

The Board directs SPEEA’s activities through the executive director, prepares the annual budget and monitors expenses. Board members also serve as the team for any interim negotiations that may occur between formal bargaining sessions.

SPEEA is seeking member nominations for the Stephen Pezzini Helping Other People Excel (HOPE) award.
This is to recognize a labor advocate who works tirelessly to help others within SPEEA and his/her community.

Nominations for this award are open to members in good standing from any SPEEA bargaining unit in Washington, Kansas, Oregon, Utah or California.

If you know a member like this, email terryh@speea.org by Thursday, Jan. 17. See the form (drop-down menu - Councils/Forms & Petitions).

Named for an inspiring Everett Council Rep who died of cancer at age 36 in 1995, Pezzini is remembered as a strong union activist, whose work made a difference for SPEEA members and his community.

Pezzini HOPE award committee
Members are encouraged to apply to review the nominations and recommend a selection for the 2019 Stephen Pezzini Helping Other People Excel (HOPE) award. If interested in serving on this committee, send your name and contact information to terryh@speea.org by Jan. 17.

This is one of SPEEA’s highest honors!

NW activist award nominations due
In addition to the Pezzini award nomination, which applies to all bargaining unit members, the Northwest Council seeks member nominations for the following awards:

• New activist
• Outstanding activist
• Outstanding leader 
• Lifetime achievement

To be eligible for an award, the member must live/work in Washington state, Oregon, California or Utah and be a member in good standing. See the nomination form. The deadline is Jan. 17.