WEU members approve contract extension

WICHITA - By a 93% majority, members of the Wichita Engineering Unit (WEU) at The Boeing Company voted Sept. 26 to extend their contract by two years.

"It was very clear SPEEA engineers at Boeing Wichita believed this was the right decision at this time," said Bob Brewer, SPEEA Midwest director and chief spokesperson for the team. "We expect a clearer picture of the business plan with the tanker, for example, when were turn to the table for contract negotiations in 2013."

WEU-Boeing contract vote

Eligible to vote: 236

Valid ballots cast: 134 (57%)

Accept: 125 (93%)

Reject: 9 (7%)

Contract extension highlights

The contract extension calls for some changes such as setting the minimum raise pools at 3% with a 0.5% guarantee, increasing the basic pension plan and creating a joint committee to work on problems in the retention/redeployment process. See the Letter of Agreement for details.

The WEU Negotiation Team and bargaining unit Council both recommended the agreement. The contract, with the amended changes, will expire Dec. 2, 2013.

The WEU Negotiation team includes Joe Newberry, Rick Ruhmann, Andy Stallard and Kent Weixelman along with Bob Brewer, SPEEA Midwest director, and Ray Goforth, SPEEA executive director.