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SEATTLE, Wash. – Come out to the Museum of Flight, Seattle, Thursday, Oct. 5 from 5 to 9 p.m., and kick off Area Representative Recognition Month with SPEEA Night at the Museum!

This event, sponsored by the NW New Hire and Young Members Committees, is open to all SPEEA-represented employees and their families.

About the event
Our event is in the Skyline Room, featuring panoramic views of Boeing Field and downtown Seattle. Snacks and soft drinks will be provided by SPEEA and attendees will have access to a no-host bar. 

Participants also have access to the galleries/exhibits from 5 to 9 p.m. as part of “Free First Thursdays” at the museum.

This is a great opportunity to meet and socialize with new and old friends in our union.

While Boeing continues to push for individuals to speak up when they see something and otherwise operate as informed, intelligent individuals, some managers are pushing for containment.

One of those measures is to keep employees in their current positions when the individual wants to transfer to another Boeing job. SPEEA’s Prof and Tech contracts limit the amount of time a manager can keep an employee from transferring, which is contrary to the new, non-union enterprise practice.

Our contracts reference an older Boeing policy that includes a number of important details. The policy includes a process for “Critical Situations” related to retention of employees which logically includes visibility to and the approval of a vice president. 

For all other situations, employees are considered “releaseable” 12 months after their date of hire, rehire, recall from layoff or being transferred at their own request. The policy also includes the caveat below:

Release earlier than 12 months or from an established program or job assignment conclusion date may be authorized when the releasing management determines such release to be in the best interest of the company and employee.

Reminder

If you are told you cannot take another position due to not being in your job long enough, email speea@speea.org and ask for your contract administrator. See your contract online at www.speea.org (drop-down menu: Bargaining Units/Contracts).

Council Rep (CR) rosters are now online! Click here or go to www.speea.org (Member Tools/Council Reps and scroll to the bottom of the page). 

SPEEA staff will print and mail the site-specific rosters to bulletin board focals with the August Bulletin Board Notices (BBNs).

SPEEA updates the rosters every two years to capture changes to district delineations, new Council Reps and new photos so members know who and where to look for assistance in the workplace.

The Boeing Company’s unilateral corporate edict for employees to return to the workplace is more focused on workplace optics than actual data regarding productivity.

SPEEA-represented employees continue to show high levels of productivity – whether working on-site or virtually.

Union leaders and staff have repeatedly engaged Boeing on the need to allow employees to work virtually. Despite Boeing acknowledging virtual work is not impacting productivity and the company’s elimination of many on-site work spaces, corporate remains committed to returning its employees to the workplace.

While requiring its own direct employees to return to the workplace, Boeing continues to outsource work to locations around the world – effectively allowing this outsourced work to be performed offsite.

The people who are entrusted to design, engineer and support the manufacturing of the world’s most sophisticated aerospace products should also be trusted by their employer to decide how to best get their group’s work statement completed. It is unfortunate management continues to assert its right to manage workers with less than adequate regard for the needs and well-being of its employees.

We encourage employees who want or need to continue working virtually to discuss their situation, viable options, and accommodations with their manager. Many local managers are working with employees and finding solutions such as long-term telecommuting or leave of absences.

Information in LOU-13 relating to Virtual Office/Telecommuting of the Prof and Tech contracts may be helpful.

Committees are open to all members and cover a wide range of interests. Interested in politics? Join the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee. Other committees focus on diversity, member activities, new members, women's advocacy, veterans issues and other issues important to members. Attend a meeting to get a feel for the issues and activities. New issues and ideas are always welcome.

Established committees, along with their charter and officers are listed on the committee pages. For more information, attend a meeting or contact one of the committee officers.

SPEEA Committees                        Midwest Committees                    Northwest Committees