Wednesday our SPEEA Negotiation Team worked hard to finalize proposed contract language on several important non-economic areas of the contract.
Wednesday morning, the Team met with Boeing executives for an extensive question-and-answer session. Late in the afternoon, the two sides met again.
Our SPEEA team presented draft contract language on performance management, workforce administration and retention ratings appeals. Boeing executives presented draft language for revising the process for notices of remedial action and strengthening the Ed Wells Partnership.
While the two teams have had robust and spirited discussions about economic issues, Boeing has not yet presented our team with proposals on pay, retirement benefits or leave from work.
Next steps
Contract talks are fluid, noted Dan Nowlin, an equipment and tool engineering specialist who works at Boeing-Everett.
However, “sooner or later we will receive a ‘best and final’ offer from Boeing,” he said. “Once that happens, several things will happen quickly one after another, so it’s important for all SPEEA members, Techs and Profs both, to stay connected and stay informed.”
Under our union’s governing documents, once we receive management’s offer:
- The Negotiation Team may issue a recommendation to accept or reject the offers.
- The Prof and Tech Bargaining Unit Councils – comprised of Council Reps representing workers in each bargaining unit – will review the contract offers to their respective bargaining units. The Councils may issue their own recommendations on whether to accept or reject them.
- The Bargaining Unit Councils also will decide whether to call for a strike authorization vote. If approved by a vote of union members, a strike authorization would empower the Negotiation Teams to call for a strike, if necessary.
- SPEEA staff will prepare an analysis of what would change if the contracts were approved, which will be distributed to all union members.
- Union members will have adequate time (usually about two weeks) to review the proposal for their unit before casting a vote on the offer and potentially casting a vote on a strike authorization. The Negotiation Team will set the date and conditions for voting.
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