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Resources during
the Stay at Home implementation

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SPEEA offices closed - Union staff available, working remote
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COVID-19 relief package includes worker protections
Letter from IFPTE
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Retention-rating appeal guide/request form online
Layoff Information
Boeing Company
Spirit AeroSystems
Other Union Information

SPEEA monitoring short work week Resources for employees facing layoff


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SPEEA webinars for those facing layoff

SPEEA has partnered with King and Snohomish County Rapid Response Teams, liaisons to Washington State Labor Council, to hold informational webinars for employees who received a WARN notice.

The information provided in the webinars is tailored for the county in which you want to receive services – King County and Snohomish County. If you are from another county you can join either webinar.

Use the links below to register. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing details about joining the webinar.

King County Rapid Response webinar
 
Snohomish County Rapid Response webinar
 

At the webinars
 
  • Washington State Employment Security Department will answer your questions about unemployment insurance, how your benefits are calculated and your responsibilities while claiming
 
  • WorkSource will discuss re-training and re-employment programs, job listings, workshops, labor market information and opportunities to network with on-site employers.
 
  • Community & Technical Colleges help dislocated workers secure job training through the state-funded Worker Retraining program. Services also may include career planning and placement, job search instruction and financial assistance.
 
  • Employee Benefits Security Administration (DOL) is responsible for enforcing Title 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) which protects benefits in private-sector pension and health plans. Able to assist with questions regarding: COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, 401(k), pensions and ERISA.
 
  • WA State Labor Council (WSLC) works to ensure dislocated workers maximize unemployment services to best support themselves, their families and careers. WSLC Labor Liaisons are dedicated to advocating for laid off workers, both union and non-union.
Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems issue more layoff notices
Boeing layoff notices
7/31/20 (Effective 10/2/20)
6/27/20 (Effective 8/28/20)
and
5/30/20 (Effective 7/31/20)

4/24/20 (Effective 6/26/20) - None issued
Spirit AeroSystems layoff notices
Spirit letter to SPEEA on WARN notices - July 31
Spirit WEU - July 31
Spirit WTPU - July 31
Spirit WEU - May 1
Spirit WTPU - May 1

The Boeing Company and Spirit AeroSystems issued additional involuntary layoff notices to SPEEA-represented employees on Friday, July 31.

Boeing issued 148 notices of intent to layoff in 60 days to 148 employees at sites in the Puget Sound region and another 8 notices to employees in Oregon. These additions bring the total of SPEEA-represented layoffs - involuntary and voluntary - to about 2,660.

In Wichita, Spirit issued 26 new layoff notices to employees in the Wichita Engineering and Professional and Technical Units. Added to the 12 SPEEA-represented employees who received involuntary layoff notices in May, Spirit has now issued 38 notices to employees in SPEEA bargaining units. A large number of represented employees also opted to take a voluntary layoff.

SPEEA contract administrators continue to review the layoff information provided by Boeing and Spirit to ensure accuracy and compliance with union contracts.

SPEEA is scheduling webinars, rapid response meetings and working to help impacted employees. The SPEEA website is being regularly updated with information to assist members. Workplace Council Representatives and SPEEA Contract Administrators are available to answer members' questions. Visit the Layoff assistance information page. 
Trade Act
Successful union petition adds help for laid-off workers

SPEEA’s petition to seek additional federal support was approved for Boeing laid-off workers in Washington state and Oregon.

SPEEA teamed up with the International Association of Machinists (IAM) 751 in filing for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), also known as Trade Act, with the U.S. Department of Labor.

“We are happy to see our petition to support laid off SPEEA members was recently approved by federal administrators,” said Ryan Rule, SPEEA president. “We know SPEEA members continue to be displaced, in part, due to global trade pressures and international economic conditions. TAA is a critical tool to aid in their return to the workforce – and most importantly, provide their families an additional layer of resources to maintain their economic security.”

Under this petition, anyone laid off after May 5, 2019, is eligible to apply for benefits as can anyone laid off through June 23, 2022.

About Trade Act

Trade Act funding is designed to assist eligible laid-off workers impacted by increased imports or companies moving work to other countries. This additional funding is a direct result of the petition filed by SPEEA and the IAM with help from the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) Workforce Development team. Washington state’s congressional leaders helped expedite the petition’s approval process to provide timely assistance to laid-off workers.

Benefits include:

- Training and tuition support

-  Income support

-  Health care tax credit

-  Out-of-area job search

- Relocation assistance

Layoff resources online

The layoff link on SPEEA’s website features more information about Trade Act benefits and how to apply. The layoff section on the website, under Member Tools, also includes additional resources, benefits and job resources. 
Members meet with lawmakers
Lawmakers at the state and federal level want to hear from SPEEA members. They are coming to virtual meetings with SPEEA to give updates on legislative issues related to aerospace and answer questions. Shown here in recent meetings are Rep. Pramila Jayapal (7th district), who serves on the House Budget Committee, and Rep. Adam Smith (9th district), chair of the House Armed Services Committee. SPEEA Legislative Director Brandon Anderson hosts the virtual meetings. Anderson is working on setting up more meetings, including reaching out to Kansas state House and Senate leaders. To learn more and sign up for upcoming meetings, email brandona@speea.org. 
Retention and designation appeal deadline at Boeing

SPEEA Professional and Technical Bargaining Units have a retention appeal process in their contracts (Article 8.4 for both units). If your retention rating dropped, you were assigned R3 four years in a row, or were given a Designation, you may appeal.

Retention ratings are assigned by management to determine the order of layoff if needed. Ranking and ratings are done within the same major organization, job family and Skill Management Code (SMC) for employees in the Professional unit and also level in the Technical unit.

Deadline to file an appeal – The completed appeal request form and supporting documents must be sent to SPEEA within 
30 day of receiving the retention rating notice.

For questions, more information can be found on the process and requirements to appeal on the Retention page (drop-down menu –Member Tools/Retention).
Boeing, Spirit start return to operations –
Safety remains top priority

As Spirit AeroSystems and The Boeing Company start phasing in operations on Monday (April 20), SPEEA reminds represented employees that remaining safe at work is every employee’s top priority.

On Friday, The Boeing Company clarified its return to work announcement. Employees who are able to continue working from home must continue to do so until directed by management to report to the workplace. Employees who are unable to work from home should coordinate their return to the workplace with their manager.

SPEEA-represented employees at Spirit in Wichita who have been working from home, and who are not requested to be on site to support production, should continue to work remotely. Four-day work weeks continue.

Boeing informed SPEEA it received the go-ahead to resume operations from the State of Washington. Spirit is classified as a essential service in Kansas. The companies are providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to employees. It is vital everyone use PPEs and follow distancing guidelines. Immediately report any lapses to management AND to your SPEEA Council Rep and/or the SPEEA office.

While we certainly hope all safety precautions are in place, experience tells us lapses will occur. This is human nature. The faster these lapses are reported and corrected, the safer the workplace becomes. The last thing Boeing and its employees need at this difficult time, is a COVID-19 crisis created by someone not wearing proper PPEs or not following distancing guidelines.

While SPEEA offices remain closed, Contract Administrators and staff remain working remotely to help with workplace issues and assist members. New information and updates are posted on the SPEEA website. In particular, SPEEA contract administrators will be following any safety issues that develop and immediately working them to help ensure SPEEA-represented employees and all Boeing employees that return to work have all the protective equipment they need, and the workplace environment is safe.

How to Wear and Remove Ear Loop Procedural Masks
Important information
Resources for employees facing income loss
during Boeing’s suspended operations

The elected officers and staff at SPEEA hope you and your families are safe during these difficult times. While SPEEA offices are closed, staff continues to work with Boeing and our publicly elected officials to push for additional resources to help impacted employees. 

For represented-employees working from home and authorized to continue – fantastic! You will continue to receive your paycheck as normal.  

For the SPEEA-represented employees who cannot work from home during the suspension of operations, we have compiled a list of information and resources on unemployment insurance benefits to help support you and your family.  

See rest of story
SPEEA demands justice for George Floyd and end to racism
Read the letter

In unanimous vote, the SPEEA Executive Board added our union to the growing list of labor unions calling for justice and an end to racism after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The seven-member board approved the letter Thursday (June 4).

The letter and effort is in line with the SPEEA Diversity Committee and its work to provide an avenue for members to address the problems and issues associated with a lack of understanding about diversity, discrimination and harassment. The committee invites members to attend its meetings held at 4 p.m. (Pacific Time) and 6 p.m. (Central Time),
the 2nd Wednesday of the month. 
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