Seven candidates are running for the interim Executive Board vacancy.

The Northwest Council elects the NW regional vice president at the July 12 regional Council meeting.

 VP candidates*

• Shaunna Winton 
• David Wilkinson
• Mohammed Riaz Khan 
• Lindsey J. Meiling 
• Dan Nowlin 
• Daniel Peters 
• Mehmet Ugur Koksu

 *Ballot order

The Northwest Tellers validated petitions June 20 and determined ballot order based on a random drawing.

The Executive Board members are responsible for setting and administering the annual budget and administering
the affairs of SPEEA. The four regional VP terms expire in March.

WICHITA – After meeting daily for the past two weeks, Negotiation teams for SPEEA-represented engineers and Spirit AeroSystems agreed to break for the first part of summer and plan for reconvening in August.

While much work remains, discussions continue to be open and productive. To date, no complete offer has passed between teams.

During the break, teams will be analyzing and reviewing options. Both sides remain committed to working the issues and are hopeful for a positive outcome.

Last negotiated in 2012, the current contract expires Dec. 1, 2018. Negotiations will determine the next contract for the approximately 980 engineers at Spirit AeroSystems in the WEU. In addition to the engineers, there are about 1,650 technical and professional workers at Spirit covered by a separate contract.

Gov. Jay Inslee with SPEEA President Joel Funfar after the press conference.

SPEEA Executive Director Ray Goforth, President Joel Funfar, Machinists President Jon Holden and Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group.

TVW link top press conference - June 6, 2018

SEATTLE -- Washington state is the best location in the U.S. to design, manufacture and ensure a successful launch of Boeing’s next airplane, according to a study performed by respected aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group.

Announced by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and the Choose Washington New Mid-Market Airplane Council, the study used 41 common metrics to produce the most comprehensive, data-driven state-by-state aerospace competitiveness study ever done.

“Washington comes way out on top,” Aboulafia said during a press conference to release the study at South Seattle Community College. “People can look at the data themselves and get the same outcome.”

Inslee said the state is well-positioned for the new airplane because of the extreme depth of experience and expertise in the engineers from SPEEA and Machinists.

“If you look at the total scores, it is obvious we are way out in front of the others,” Inslee said. “It’s really not even close.
Though wages may be lower in other locations, the study used common data points to weigh productivity as a factor in the cost. Machinists 751 President Jon Holden explained:

“The Teal Report looks not just at the basic cost of the labor, but they also looked at the output of that labor,” Holden said. “What they found is that machinists and engineers (SPEEA) here in Washington are very efficient and productive.  We produce more aerospace output per dollar cost of labor than almost anywhere else.”

SPEEA President Joel Funfar emphasized the point: “It’s a lot cheaper when you do it right the first time,” he said. “It is very clear when you look at all the factors that Washington is the best place to ensure success for the NMA.”

While Washington came out on top of the overall rankings, Kansas had a strong showing in several areas, including first in aerospace supplier density.

“I’m not surprised that Kansas was fourth,” Aboulafia said. “Wichita is the air capital of the world, with the greatest concentration of business aircraft and general aviation production and the skilled engineers and machinists needed to keep the state a leader in those markets.”

The Choose Washington NMA Council is led by business, labor, education, economic development and elected leaders.

More information on the council and the NMA effort is available at: http://nma.choosewashingtonstate.com/

Read the full Aerospace Competitive Economics Study (ACES) report.

Council Reps from outside of Puget Sound are shown here for a meeting to discuss issues and network with Puget Sound elected leaders. The ‘out of towners’ are here for the annual SPEEA Council Convention (June 1) and Leadership Conference (June 2). Special guests include SPEEA members on the Wichita Engineering Unit (WEU) Negotiation Team.

At the Council meeting, all SPEEA Bargaining Units’ Council Reps vote on motions to set policy for the union, discuss workplace issues and hear updates from union committees, Council officers and the Executive Board.

At the Leadership Conference, with the theme of ‘Labor Activists and Champions,’ Council Reps and guest activists attend training workshops and hear from national labor leaders/guest speakers. The training addresses leadership development and member outreach as well as issues such as legislative policy, the impact of labor history on the future and workplace harassment.