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March 2001 Renton to Everett move, outsourcing, to be studied Boeing's announcement that studies are being done on the feasibility of moving Renton manufacturing to Everett and possibly off-loading other work is prompting SPEEA to lobby the Company for more employee involvement. In addition, SPEEA has started a process to solicit input from members regarding the Renton move and also about the ongoing issue of outsourcing. "The Company's decision-making process on key issues needs to be opened up," said Charles Bofferding, SPEEA Executive Director. "There can't be any decisions or actions that are good for Boeing and bad for employees. Before a decision can be good for Boeing, it must be a good decision for Boeing employees." SPEEA traditionally looks at the business impacts of major Company decisions. As such, it will begin this effort by investigating the pluses and minuses that would result from moving Renton-Boeing operations to Everett. The effort includes the establishment of a SPEEA committee to perform the investigation; and holding a number of lunchtime meetings to solicit input, comments, ideas and concerns from members. "First and foremost we are concerned about the affect any decision-whether moving facilities or outsourcing work-will have on the employees," Bofferding said. "Second, we need to know decisions are not being made for a short-term profit gain, but rather because they are in the best long-term interest of the Company." The Union's actions are not totally new. Questions about moving operations and outsourcing work are raised during many joint meetings with the Company and at virtually every Partnership meeting. Because of the critical nature of the work performed by SPEEA-represented employees, outsourcing jobs has not been as large an issue as it is for employees represented by the IAM. However, SPEEA officials are aware of the potential and continue to question The Company about the possibility of outsourcing work now performed by Boeing's own technical employees. One of the more recent outsourcing concerns involves proposals that the 747X wing production could be done in Japan. Concerns have already been raised about allowing critical wing technology out of the United States. "We stand very firmly that no employee should lose his or her job," Bofferding said. "We believe that by working together, we can come up with solutions that allow for the expansion the Company is looking for, and also protects the jobs and careers of people working at Boeing today." Newest bargaining unit starts negotiating first contract Members of SPEEA's newest bargaining unit, the 4,200-member Wichita Technical and Professional Unit, delivered their proposal to the Company for their first-ever contract on February 8. After delivering copies of the proposal, a presentation to bargaining unit members was held at South Wichita High School. Attendance was high, in spite of all the bad weather. The proposal was based on considerable membership input, including a membership survey in November. The negotiation team then spent about six weeks evaluating the responses, researching the issues and formulating the proposal. Top issues in the SPEEA proposal include securing fair guaranteed and selective wage increases, improved healthcare coverage, and revision to the savings and pension plans. Face to face negotiations started February 19 and were expected to take from two to three weeks. According to the schedule, the Company's final proposal should be ready for membership review around the middle of March. Members could then vote on the proposal by a mail-in ballot. To keep up on the latest news from the negotiations, visit the Wichita section of the SPEEA website. You can also e-mail the negotiation team at: Wichita.negotiations@speea.org. Members are reminded that one of the keys to the negotiations is membership! Talk to a co-worker today about joining SPEEA! Partnership update At the February 8, 2001 SPEEA Council meeting, Staff member Maria Nelson provided an update on the Partnership activities. The Working Together Partnership meeting was held with Dave Swain just following last month's Council meeting. Dave talked about Phil Condit's revisions to Vision 2016. He said, at the top management offsite meeting held last month, they spent a good deal of time on "People" issues, as compared to the previous year. The message was clear that our strike really had an impact on people, and some changes are needed. At the Swain meeting, Hank Queen gave a presentation on the Partnership activities in Commercial Engineering. Hank will be at next month's SPEEA Council meeting to share this report with SPEEA Council Reps. He will talk about issues they are dealing with in Commercial Engineering, People strategies, and Partnership activities. Maria said she also hopes to let some of the people involved in engagement efforts talk about what's going on in their areas. Maria noted that joint communications are "desirable", but haven't been happening. They talked about using the Ed Wells Initiative website as a way to distribute these updates. Also at the Swain meeting, SPEEA talked about the SPEEA Partnership Support Team that is made up of a cross-section of SPEEA people active on the partnership activities from the various major organizations: executive board members, council and staff. This group held a meeting on February 1st. Their goals include coordinating the various Partnership activities, assuring that SPEEA participants receive adequate training, and encouraging new partnership efforts through Council Reps in areas where they aren't happening. This group will be attending a second day of training next week, in Seattle and Everett, for support teams involved on the Commercial Engineering partnership efforts. Maria noted, at future Council meetings, she plans to have the people who are involved in these Partnership activities do some reporting. Annual enrollment - Medical, Dental, LTD, VPA and eligible domestic partners The health & welfare
annual enrollment period for SPEEA-represented employees covered
by the Puget Sound Contracts has been set. During the period from
May 1st through the 25th, employees may:
Information will be posted on the Boeing web site at http://www.boeing.com/company offices/empinfo/compensation/union This open enrollment period for Long-Term Disability Insurance coverage is offered for the first time in several years, at the request of SPEEA. SPEEA also sought domestic partner coverage during negotiations. The Company agreed to offer "same gender" coverage only. Effective
Date of changes Strike Anniversary fetes shine We were hard-pressed to find any record of a labor union taking time to commemorate the anniversary of a strike. Then again, there was never a strike like the SPEEA strike. The 40-day SPEEA strike of 2000 was not easy, but most people who weathered it agree that it had its fun moments. Perhaps that is what drew a few thousand Boeing employees from their normal lunchtime routine on February 9th. It was an opportunity to re-experience the fun and friendships that formed and solidified during those 40 days in the year 2000. Anniversary events took place at ten locations around Puget Sound and at Company facilities in Spokane, Portland, Florida and Utah. Major sites had burn barrels on hand for workers to sign. All of the locations shared a portion of more than 10,000 SPEEA cookies and special anniversary badge stickers. In Spokane and Portland, local managers came outside to join the festivities. The gesture was well received and a sure indication that the best days for SPEEA-represented employees still lay ahead. Spokane Council Rep Dennis Davaz (W-10) said about 50 workers, including a few managers, were under cover thanks to a group of Boeing second-level managers who donated a portable awning for the event. Executive Board member Alan Rice hand-carried greetings, cookies and other items for the lunchtime barbecue. "It was really a treat for us to have Alan here," Davaz said. "We had a great event and the mood, especially with the managers who came out, was a lot different than last year. It was positive and a lot of fun." Members at Edwards Air Force Base in California also marked the day, although their fete was a few days late. "The cookies arrived a little late. The folks here are spread out all over the place," said California Council Rep Jeff Lewis. More than 800 people
enjoyed pizza in Renton. Council Rep Gene Blackman The Kent plant's event drew so many people out of the workplace that the allotment of pizza was gone in 20 minutes. Cookies sufficed for the remaining members of the crowd. About 250 to 300 attended events at Corporate Headquarters and the Developmental Center. Many of the sites collected donations for local food banks. At the end of the day, estimates placed the donations at approximately one ton of non-perishable food items. Cash donations totaled more than $2,800.00. The money and food will be split between King and Snohomish county food banks. About two-dozen members gathered for lunch at Cape Canaveral in Florida. "All the folks were surprised by the package of cookies," said Florida Council Rep Mike Johnson. "We ate some and then passed out quite a few to other workers and managers." Council Chairman Pat Waters said the Everett event was an emotional experience. "It was a lot of fun," Waters said. "I'm glad we did it." Look here for photos from around the event sites My story It is not every day that a person is in the right place at the right time to witness history in the making. That's exactly where I found myself at 12:15 a.m., Friday, March 17, 2000. I was in SPEEA headquarters when news broke that a tentative agreement had been reached between negotiators for SPEEA and Boeing. The strike might be over. I liked volunteering for the midnight to 6 a.m. shift on Thursday and Friday in the picket war room at SPEEA. This particular Friday morning, 38 days into the strike, Tom McCarty and I were the only two working. I thought we the only two on duty in the building. But, shortly after midnight, a woman came down from the offices upstairs. This was odd; usually at this hour offices upstairs were deserted. Furthermore, Tom seemed to be holding in a secret. The woman, SPEEA staff member Jessica Bonebright, was reluctant to say much. She just hinted that something could be happening. It turned out that there was news on the SPEEA web page about a possible settlement that would be turned on for viewing only when the office in Tukwila got the final word from the negotiating team. The team was in Washington, D.C. meeting with representatives from the Company. Minutes later, Bonebright returned to say an agreement had been reached and that the web page was available for viewing. McCarty brought the page up on the computer, and there it was - news of the tentative agreement. Within 10 minutes, the phones at SPEEA headquarters were ringing. Callers were asking if the agreement was real or a hoax. "You could be going to work on Monday," McCarty told one caller. It was good there were a few people around to answer the phones. Members called. The press called. Curious observers called. One person could not possibly handle the volume. In a couple of hours more people came in to hang out and hear the fine points of the news. Before sunrise dozens of people were at SPEEA headquarters. Strike activities had to be kept going, because we had to continue striking until there was a vote and members approved the proposal. As we all know, members voted to approve the agreement on Sunday, March 19. I was among the thousands of workers who returned to work at 9 a.m., Monday, March 20. The largest white-collar strike against a U.S. Corporation in history was history. Everett
has a Barrel of fun! The first anniversary observance of the SPEEA walkout was a "barrel of fun." The morning of February 9th started with volunteers erecting a stage, barbecue grills, food tables, and displays. Banners were hung "carefully" on The Boeing Company sign at the Seaway Boulevard entrance. By 10 a.m. volunteers had the mini-festival set for action. Then the crowds started. By 11 a.m., the line for grilled hot dogs stretched nearly half a football field down the sidewalk. Passing motorists looked puzzled; had the Everett SPEEA members walked out...again? No, this was a celebration of our solidarity. During the next two hours, conservative estimates placed more than 900 people at the event. Hundreds of former strikers signed the SPEEA burn barrel. One creative engineer chose a unique approach; he opened the wood door at the bottom and signed the inside of the door. Diana and the Strykers kept people entertained before dignitaries and guest speakers took the stage at noon. Council Chairman Pat Waters was first to address the crowd. He had some sad news. Long-time member and SPEEA activist Chuck Bitler passed away Wednesday night. Just two days before the celebration, a good friend was gone. Pat asked everyone to remember Brother Bitler with a moment of silence. Waters went on to recall the strike with fondness. He recalled the night standing on the line in the cold and the rain, when a car pulled up and a little girl got out to hand the strikers two quarters. "It was obvious that this was her allowance money," said Waters, "and her contribution to our strike fund ultimately became part of a total that grew to $514,000." Mike Sells, Secretary-Treasurer from the Snohomish County Labor Council, thanked SPEEA members for supporting organized labor. Sells told the crowd, "We are proud to have you as part of the family; thank you all." Renee Jarvi, a picket captain, spoke about the camaraderie and the way everyone pulled together to make things happen. Jarvi recalled the way members made being on the picket line fun. "It was a celebration," said Jarvi. "I will never forget the lessons that I learned from the strike. And I know that I will never look at a worker on strike the same way. I learned a lot of lessons but most of all I learned what we can do when we stand together." SPEEA Council Rep Chris Glenn thanked the staff and the community for their support of the strike. Glenn received the loudest applause when he said, "While we're thankful for all that support, it was those of you who walked the line that gave us the victory, and we must never forget that." As at other sites, participants in Everett used the event to also give back to the community that helped them last year. During the short celebration at Site 1, more than 500 lbs of food was collected and a total of $1,158 for the local area food bank. No doubt about it, SPEEA people know how to throw a party...be it on the picket line or for an anniversary. Any way they do it, it's a barrel of fun! Strike
was turning point for labor movement When the 19,000 engineers and technicians at The Boeing Company, members of SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001, walked out a year ago to demand a fair contract and respect on the job, their action was the largest strike by private-sector professionals in labor history - and a turning point for the union movement. Because of the courageous action of these men and women, millions of white-collar and professional workers in our country now know they can build a better future for their families by joining and forming unions. They now know that they can bargain successfully with their employers, not only for better pay and benefits, but for a voice on the job and a say in the decisions that affect them. They know they can advance their profession through union solidarity. The strikers proved the age-old lesson: When workers join together and stay together, workers win together. The strikers' solidarity sent a message to employers that men and women who work in offices have as much strength and staying power as their brothers and sisters who work in factories. The strike was about much more than money - it was about respect, an issue central to all workers, whether they are white collar or blue collar. No employer, no matter how powerful, will ever think he or she can disrespect a group of workers and get away with it just because those workers are white-collar. The tenacity and solidarity of Local 2001 won Boeing's respect. Among the most important achievements of the new agreement is its establishment of a Partnership based upon mutual respect, mutual commitment and mutual benefit. The agreement shows that a company can indeed be a world-class business leader by offering a world-class place to work. The agreement is an inspiration to millions of white-collar employees, who are beginning to organize around long-standing concerns over wages, benefits and job security, respect in the workplace, and the ability to attain professional goals and control over how they do their work. The myth that private-sector, white-collar workers do not appreciate the value of a union was demolished by the strike. Today there is a new determination among professional employees to stand and fight for their rights as workers. Across the country, we see that determination among full-time and part-time college faculty and graduate teaching assistants who are joining unions; among physicians and dentists and even acupuncturists who have joined together to demand that they--not some big insurance corporation or HMO--decide the best treatment for patients; and among staff lawyers, insurance agents and other professionals. As the veneer of the so-called new economy begins to wear off, exposing the same tactics by employers to exploit their employees, workers at every level are beginning to seek the advantages of joining a union. And their efforts will be strongly inspired by the brave SPEEA/IFPTE members who showed that workers who stand in solidarity will win. _________ Richard L. Trumka is secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO and played a key role in the negotiations that led to the agreement that ended the strike at Boeing. Sign the Auburn burn barrel Auburn Council Rep Paul Bowman writes: "It was GREAT to see a lot of you at the strike commemoration event during lunch on Feb. 9th. There were hundreds of us out there remembering the unity we had during the strike, and the snacks were good too! I hope you had a chance to sign the Auburn burn barrel, but if you didn't you still have a chance to. We found the perfect spot to display our Auburn Burn Barrel after the lunchtime event - the CCD Espresso Shop. It is operated by Joe Miller. Joe and the other employees at CCD drove around the Auburn plants and gave out coffee at all times of the day and night during our 40-day strike. He has agreed to let us put the commemorative burn barrel in his store at 801 C St. SW, across the street from Longhorn BBQ. If you did not get a chance to sign it please stop by to do so. "We are all lucky to have supporters like Joe, so let's repay his kindness by showing support for him. If you don't drink coffee, he just added smoothies to his menu, and he has just started offering a wide variety of sandwiches. So grab a snack when you drop in to sign the barrel. Their hours are 4 a.m. to 4 p.m." IFPTE leaders say, "Be proud of yourselves" To our friends at SPEEA - IFPTE Local 2001, Happy Anniversary! This is the time when you made history. This is the time when you declared, "We have earned your respect." This is the time when you became a union, not because you walked out on strike, but because you decided that by bonding together, you could not be beaten, and that together, you would make a difference. What difference did you make? One year after your historic strike, SPEEA has shown a phenomenal growth in membership. Last June, you won an amazing organizing victory in Wichita, a victory that was propelled by the solidarity you showed in the early weeks of 2000. Today, you continue to reap the benefits as more and more Boeing technical employees throughout the country express their desire to join your union. The impact of your historic strike extends well beyond your own ranks. Labor leaders from across the US and Canada constantly remind us that the impact of your efforts continues to energize their own members and leaders. Leaders of unions from the Teamsters to the Service Employees to the Newspaper Guild to Teachers; have all told us in ever-glowing terms of the affect your efforts have had on their unions. Recently, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney told us that he had met with a contingent of US Congressmen and women from the state of Washington, who only wanted to tell him how they and their staffs were inspired by the stories of the SPEEA strike. As time passes, history will often get revisited. People, claiming to be in the know, will want to tell the "real story" of what "really happened." Never let that happen to the history of the SPEEA strike. It was not won by an individual or by a single event or by one critical decision. It was won by all of you displaying a daily unbending resolve to prove that you were holding together as a force to be reckoned with. You won, and you continue to win. Enjoy your anniversary. Be proud of yourselves. We, and every union of the IFPTE are certainly proud of you. In Solidarity,
EDITOR'S NOTE: On March 2, Gregory Junemann was elected to succeed Paul Almeida as President of the IFPTE. Almeida will soon move to his new position as President of the AFL-CIO's Department for Professional Employees. Miss a loan payment during the strike? A member of our Technical Unit believed the rumor that Citistreet/VIP loan payments would just be extended the number of payments missed during the strike, at the end of the loan. She skipped the payroll-deducted payment during the strike. Because the loan was due to be paid off soon, Citistreet wrote the individual a letter stating that the missed payment needed to be made up and sent in or the loan was considered defaulted. The member contacted Citistreet by phone to inquire why they waited ten months to notify them of the situation. But Citistreet gave no explanation for the time lag. If you skipped a loan payment to your VIP loan (or other financial institution) during the strike, you should check with VIP (or other creditor) to see what might need to be done. Thank you for making the anniversary a success! The strike anniversary would not have taken place without the hard work of many SPEEA members. Thank you to all the site coordinators, committee members, guests and speakers who helped us celebrate! Special thanks go to Event Chairs and SPEEA members Gene Blackman and Sharon Marrell. Your efforts helped make the first anniversary event a success! 40 days of SPEEA - Part II Be sure to check out the daily look backs Wednesday, March 1 Boeing declares the strike at impasse. SPEEA gains national media time by holding a noon press conference before 1,000 strikers at the Southcenter theatre. SPEEA also counters by filing more unfair labor practice charges. Prime among them is one charging that an impasse cannot be declared because the Company neglected to leave an offer on the table. Thursday, March 2 Company tells media they will start imposing contract now that impasse has been reached. SPEEA calls the move a "temper tantrum" that has no bearing on the strike. Workers remain resolved to continue their strike. Boeing announces it has started developing a new version of the 777. Friday, March 3 Boeing announces it delivered 15 of 42 scheduled airplanes in February. SPEEA disputes the figure. Stock analysts trim their expectations for Boeing. Saturday, March 4 Four SPEEA- represented workers at Cape Canaveral in Florida join the strike after Boeing managers tell them to perform fill-in work on a Titan 4 launch. The engineers said the work was out of their expertise. The move means that 100-percent% of the Boeing electrical engineers in Florida are now on strike. Sunday, March 5 Day 26 of the strike:. Boeing holds an unusual Sunday afternoon press conference to announce that any striker returning to work tomorrow will receive an immediate raise as the Company starts enacting portions of the rejected contract. SPEEA represented employees start actively and visibly looking for new jobs. The Seattle P-I runs a front-page story about one worker who left the picket line, (and Boeing), for a job at Microsoft. "When they declared impasse, I started working on my resume," on striker tells the media. Monday, March 6 Striking workers say "No Way" the Company's move to implement portions of the contract will entice them back to work. The Company has yet to deliver a single airplane in the first six days of the month. The Associated Press carries a story about the invention of the SPEEA's environmentally- friendly burn barrel. Tuesday, March 7 AFL-CIO Secretary- Treasurer Richard Trumka visits the picket lines. Speaking for the AFL-CIO during an evening rally at Mercer Arena, he says, "We'll stand with you. We'll fight with you, until we WIN with you!" The media reports that the Company's attempt to entice workers back with a guaranteed 2 percent pay raise has failed. The union's hardship fund now exceeds $140,000. The New York Times carries a front-page article about the strike;. T the headline reads "Boeing's Brains Develop Brawn On Picket Line." Wednesday, March 8 Boeing stock hits a 52-week low, closing at $33.38 today. Boeing announces plans to cut an additional 5,000 workers. The Company also says customers should expect airplane delivery problems to last at least through the end of the year. Buoyed by donations from labor unions around the country, the SPEEA strike relief fund tops $300,000. Thursday, March 9 Day 30 of the SPEEA strike starts with the Company still unable to confirm how many workers are off the job. Boeing says between 16,000 and 17,000 employees are on strike. SPEEA says the number is close to 19,000. Boeing acknowledges the strike is having a financial impact on the Company. Wall Street analysts start wondering aloud about the negative impacts the Company's strategy is having. Friday, March 10 Boeing and SPEEA officially postpone talks in Wichita until after the strike is settled. Boeing stock price continues to fall, closing today at $32.38. Analysts say the Company could face a 40 percent drop in profits for the year. The Company has only delivered one aircraft during the first 10 days of the month. Saturday, March 11 Boeing goes ahead with a scheduled Sea Launch in California. The rocket, carrying a $100 million communications satellite, falls into the ocean shortly after launch. Sunday, March 12 Daily newspapers in Seattle run front-page stories about Boeing engineers leaving the Company for higher- paid jobs elsewhere. Many of those leaving are workers with 10 or more years of service, traditionally the heart of Boeing's expertise. Monday, March 13 Boeing says strikers are beginning to cross the picket lines. However, after checking SPEEA learns that more workers are joining the strike than are returning to work. The South County Journal reports that while one worker did return in a particular Kent work group, two others in the same group joined the strike. Tuesday, March 14 The Tacoma News Tribune carries a headline that reads "SPEEA Wonders: Where's Phil?" The story goes on to talk about how Boeing leaders Phil Condit, Harry Stonecipher and Jim Dagnon are conspicuously absent from public view as the strike drags on for its 35th Day. Wednesday, March 15 Internet websites help keep striking Boeing employees connected, informed and in good humor. The official SPEEA website logged more than 223,000 hits in February and 120,000 during the first 12 days of March. The hits are about 10 times more than usual. Thursday, March 16 In Seattle, 24 commercial jets now fill every available spot at Boeing Field. Another 12 undelivered airplanes sit at Paine Field in Everett. In a letter sent to more than 91,000 employees, Boeing leaders criticize striking employees for harming the Company's reputation. The National Labor Relations Board issues a ruling stating that the Company did unfairly discipline Stan Sorscher, chair of SPEEA's professional negotiations team, for using the Boeing e-mail system. Boeing begins to shuffle workers to take care of pressing customer needs that are usually handled by employees represented by SPEEA. American Airlines tells the Company that missed deliveries are forcing the airlines to cancel some flights. Friday, March 17 Shortly after midnight, a tentative contract agreement is reached between Boeing and SPEEA during a meeting in Washington D.C. AFL-CIO Secretary- Treasurer Richard Trumka helps the two sides come together. Boeing CEO Phil Condit holds a press conference to announce the agreement. SPEEA later holds its own press. A series of membership meetings are planned for Saturday. Members will vote on Sunday. The agreement includes more guaranteed money, no benefit take-a ways and a bonus for all SPEEA represented employees. The agreement also allows a vote on Agency Fee, a provision that would require all members of the bargaining unit to pay a fee to the union to cover the cost of services provided. The Associated Press and other major media call the agreement a victory for SPEEA. Saturday, March 18 SPEEA- represented members learn about the tentative agreement during a series of area meetings. The Southcenter Theater is jammed beyond capacity. Similar crowds attend meetings in Seattle and Northgate. Reaction to the proposal is mixed with some members calling for more. Other members say it's time to end the strike. Sunday, March 19 SPEEA members come to Seattle Center to cast votes on whether to accept or reject the tentative contract agreement. Negotiation team members spend the day answering members' questions about the proposed contract. Some members protest the proposal. Others, lobby for its approval. Votes are counted that night at SPEEA Hheadquarters. The final tally shows both the Professional and Technical units approved the contract by a margin of more than 70 percent. Employees will return to work tomorrow at 9 a.m. The largest white-collar strike against a U.S. Corporation in history ends after 40 days. Monday, March 20 Striking SPEEA members return to work at Boeing facilities en-masse at 9 a.m. AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka and IFPTE President Paul Almeida help send workers back in Renton. Workers return to find mounds of work left undone. They set to work bringing the Company back up to speed. By year's end, Boeing will deliver 489 airplanes, just one short of its goal. Strike stories from members "The impact of SPEEA's
strike was almost immediate. No line and shop support. No AOG support.
No Delivery support. No DER's to sign work off. And, management
reeling in disbelief that this was really happening." "One morning in front
of Corporate Headquarters, a company security person drove up and
began lowering the Boeing flag. We picketers watched with anticipation,
hoping that he would replace it with a white flag. Alas, all he
did was put up a clean Boeing flag." "I will never forget
the way our brothers and sisters of the IAM stood by us. I will
never think of them in the same way. They were awesome." "When I got down or someone
on my team felt low, we would go up to the 87, 88 building in Everett
and be uplifted immediately. They were having a party all the time.
The music was great, the couch and rug was the ultimate touch! There
would always be lots of people there and someone to talk too." "I feel privileged to
have played a role in this historic strike. What we have sacrificed
will benefit all of us in the long run and set an indelible precedent
for those who follow. We have demonstrated that we can successfully
unite together to demand respect and equitable treatment from a
misguided and overbearing corporate management. I am proud to be
one of you!" "We ALL held together,
strong and un-yeilding through the rain, freezing rain and the one
night that it even snowed. We all took picketing to a new level
never practiced before, establishing a new standard by having fun
on a picket line. We had music, live bands, barbecues, cook-off's
and just hanging together and staying strong." "My story happened after
the strike when the company announced it was going to stop charging
NSP and managers for healthcare insurance. During a program review
in Kent, two managers from Huntington Beach made a point to personally
thank every SPEEA member they knew for getting their health insurance
premium charges eliminated. An NSP in Renton told all of his co-workers
to also thank every SPEEA member they knew for the same thing, no
healthcare premiums. Our strike really did help people." "I guess what impressed
me the most was how we pulled together and put the picket sites
up in less than 24 hours. For the first time in a long time I felt
good." One last strike story... "Like most people, we were rather stressed at the beginning of the strike. Both of us were on strike. After we moved to one of the smaller picket sites and arranged our duty so we could picket together, we started to relax. We enjoyed not jumping out of bed every morning in order to get to work. Apparently, the rest and exercise worked wonders. The day after the strike ended, we found out we were finally going to have the baby we had been trying to have for so long. Today, we now have a beautiful, healthy, baby boy! And, the bonuses that we won with the strike, helped fill the pay gap at the end of my maternity leave." /s/ Connie and Robert Allen Aviation & Electronic Schools of America Aviation & Electronic Schools of America (AESA) offers courses in aviation, electronics, telecommunications, and computer science. These courses are available around the world in training seminars, customized employee training programs, degree programs, and distance education. AESA guarantees that you will pass all parts of the FAA A&P, I.A., and FCC written rating exams upon completion of their courses. If you fail any part, which is not likely, they will give you additional instruction, at no extra cost, until you pass. AESA often schedules courses in the Wichita area and in Washington State. Some of the courses AESA offers include: Computer Building & Configuring Computer Service Technician: Hardware Computer Service Technician: Operating Systems Fiber Optics Fiber Optics Advanced Certification To find out more information, you can contact Sam Palmer at 1-800-345-2742, ext. 210 - or email spalmer@aesa.com. You can also check out their website at http://www.aesa.com Retiree
data-gathering request As a result of my activities in examining the pension sawtooth problem described in SPEEA articles, I have come to the following initial conclusions and made the following arrangements for purposes of investigation. 1) Each January, the retirement calculation is updated for a new "covered compensation" amount. 2) The effect probably averages a few hundred dollars in the calculated annual benefit. 3) Boeing has in
some, but not all, cases leveled your final benefit calculations
4) The same thing has happened concerning the effects of productivity payments (lump sums) on your benefit calculation. 5) All of the above raises questions as to how Boeing calculates these benefits. For purposes of investigation to verify the above, I would like to contact any retiree who is interested in determining Boeing's past practices. Initially, I want to focus on retirees who fall into the following group. Retirement year: 1995, 96 or 97 - especially 1995. Last day of work in Dec, Jan or Feb [retirement month is then Jan, Feb, or March] If you are willing to share your benefit statements and salary history information, I can put you in contact with a lawyer who has agreed to investigate the details at no cost or obligation to you, except for your personal time, and minor copying costs. At this time it is strictly an investigation to determine what, if anything, might be done. DO NOT send your specific information to me. Please call me at (425) 885-9528 or email me at dshuper@halcyon.com /s/ Don Shuper SPEEA Commemorative Strike T-shirts available Last year, during our strike, SPEEA member Rod Call sold the "One-Day Longer" T-shirts which became a popular item among the members. He has now developed a smart new design: "40 Days and Nights... One year anniversary...I was there when it counted...SPEEA Strike 2000" with the infamous SPEEA burn-barrel. He is asking $9 for an ash-colored T-shirt, size S - XL ($11 for 2XL; $13 for 3XL). Ash-colored sweatshirts sell for $17, size S - XL ($19 for 2 XL; $21 for 3XL). Check out the t-shirt design at website http://www.propass.com/strike/index2.html
Midwest
Region Council Officers elected At our January Midwest Regional Council meeting, officers were elected to serve terms until 2003. Chairman Hoyt Hillman started at Boeing in January 1988 and currently holds the position of a Regulatory Compliance Programs Advisor. Hoyt graduated with a BA in Education, Physical Science and Chemistry from Wichita State University and played a lead role in organizing our newly-formed WTPU unit. He represents buildings 2-270A and 2-333B and hopes to restore and improve the relationships between employees and management to obtain productivity and partnership goals. Treasurer Linda Newell
began her career at Boeing in 1980 and is currently in Commercial
Engineering. Linda will represent employees in buildings Secretary John Poettker is a 4-year structural design engineer in 777 Thrust Reverser Design. He is new to the Council and represents the engineering employees in buildings 1-198D, 1-255K, and 1-271A. John has been responsible for authoring and compiling articles for our monthly Wichita SPEEA newsletter, and has the communication expertise for his new position. Employee
Incentive Plan On Friday, February 16, the Boeing Employee Incentive Plan (EIP) paid out bonus checks equal to 7.85 days' pay. This year's EIP was paid, per the plan's provisions, to each represented employee in the newly-organized Wichita Technical & Professional Unit (WTPU). Future participation in the EIP will be a subject to discussion during the upcoming WTPU negotiations. Area
Reps Receive Training Wichita Area Representatives recently attended a session of instructional training on their roles and responsibilities. Two identical, 3-hour sessions were held at the new Wichita SPEEA office by Maria Nelson of the Seattle staff. Area Reps were instructed on Labor Law Basics, Area Rep Do's and Don'ts, and the differences in the roles of the Area Reps and the Council Reps. WTPU Council Rep Carolyn Wood also discussed various techniques for recruiting new members. Council
Rep Training Wichita Council Representatives attended 8 hours of training in the duties and responsibilities of Council Reps. This training included an excellent presentation on the rights of all bargaining unit members to representation through the grievance process and in Security investigations. Maria Nelson, a Contract Administrator from Seattle, gave the basic Area Rep training to us and then gave us an overview of what the legal standards are for determining just cause. We learned how to properly represent bargaining unit members in attendance, misconduct and performance discipline hearings. Maria finished the day with a detailed grievance exercise that really drove home for me how critical the role of the Council Rep can be. Robert
Wentworth: 32 Years as an Area Rep The first all-member meeting of SPEEA Wichita was a special one. SPEEA gave special recognition to Robert Wentworth for his years of work. Bob has been an Area Rep for 32 years since the Wichita Engineering Association days. Bob loves being an area rep and is a star recruiter. In 1998, Bob was awarded the SPEEA recruiter of the year for recruiting 47 new members. Many years ago, for WEA, Bob recruited 125 members in one year. Accepting the special recognition, Bob commented that he was very happy that we have a new bargaining unit in Wichita. He challenged the members of the WTPU to intensify their recruitment campaign. "A good organization can help the members and the company", Bob stated. Bob concluded that united we stand and divided we fall. His final greeting to
the gathering was "I will see you all in 5 years for my 50th
year
Why
should I join SPEEA? When I talk to many of you about becoming a member of SPEEA, you say to me "I want to wait and see what SPEEA is going to do for me." SPEEA does more than negotiate a contract every three years or handle grievances. Here is one example of what SPEEA can do for you. What happens if Boeing decides to divest itself of a part of the company? In California recently an entire job function was bid to an outside contractor. Locally some of the support functions face a management goal of a 50% cost reduction over the next five years. What can happen to you if you are a SPEEA-represented employee? The following situation actually happened just a few of years ago involving SPEEA-represented employees in the divestiture of Simulation & Training at The Boeing Company. First of all, if you are a represented employee you must be notified 120 days prior to the sale. The Company does not owe that notification to nonunion employees. In this case, the Company, SPEEA and Flight Safety International (the purchasers) hammered out agreements that were satisfactory to all Bargaining Unit Employees. Here are the facts about what was negotiated for the members. The represented employees had two options to choose from: Choice 1: Employees were offered $15,000.00 cash in hand to move to Flight Safety Boeing, accepting FSI's benefits and retirement packages. In addition, if they remained at Flight Safety Boeing for one year, the represented employee would receive an additional $15,000.00. This option represented a $30,000.00 cash buy out. Not bad for the short term employees. To sweeten the pot even more, any employee accepting this option would have up to one year (all cash in hand) to decide to leave Flight Safety Boeing and retain call-back rights at The Boeing Company. Not a bad deal at all. Choice 2: Some of the represented employees felt that they had invested a lot of years with The Boeing Company and did not want to lose what they had earned over the years. They had the choice of remaining a badge-carrying Boeing employee assigned to work at the Flight Safety Boeing facility. In other words they remained Boeing employees with the same Benefits package, 401K, Health Care, the works. Not a bad deal either. Bargaining Unit employees could choose either option. Had these employees NOT been represented, they could have been forced to reapply for their jobs in the new company, or make the change without any options. This was a hard-fought battle but the represented employees, with the help of SPEEA, got what was best for them, best for The Boeing Company and best for Flight Safety Boeing. This is just one example of what SPEEA can do for you.
Guild can use your help After 49 long days on strike, workers at The Seattle Times ratified a new contract. Some employees may not be back at work for up to six months. Seattle Post-Intelligencer workers returned to work after 40+ days on strike. As we all know during the SPEEA strike, there are a number of folks who could use some extra help to pay their bills. The Guild has set up a striker relief fund and is requesting your help. You can send your tax-deductible donation to: The Newspaper Guild Assistance Fund, c/o King County Labor Agency, 2800 First Avenue, Room 126, Seattle, WA 98121. SPEEA's
5th annual Camping/River-Rafting trip Join your fellow SPEEA members and friends for a thrilling ride on Washington's most well-known white- water river, the Wenatchee River. Combine sunshine, adrenaline, the Cascades & engulfing whitewater to produce a day you'll never forget. Then share your experiences around the campfire later in the day. We will be guided by Pacific Rim Expeditions, whose guides have run commercial river trips together for many years. Personal attention is given to safety, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to enjoyment of the trip. Equipment is of the highest quality, and each guide possesses years of experience with first-aid and CPR training. We have reserved space at Tumwater Campground (located on the north side of Highway 2, ten miles west of Leavenworth) for both Friday & Saturday nights, June 1 & 2. Come camp overnight in this beautiful park located on the Wenatchee River. Enjoy hiking, fishing, games, camaraderie and a potluck dinner on Saturday night, reminiscing the day's white-water experiences. We'll be rafting the river on Saturday, June 2. We'll gather that morning in Leavenworth and be bussed to the "put in" spot. We'll spend the afternoon floating (?!?) down to Wenatchee River State Park, then be bussed back to our cars. COST PER PERSON: $55 (After May 1st, it's $60). Includes rafting fee with lunch on Saturday, plus two nights' camping fees, games and prizes. WHAT TO BRING: CAMPING: Your own tent, sleeping bag, pillow, toiletries (there are flush toilets and running water, but no showers) ... food for your own meals at campsite ... potluck dish to share on Saturday night ... be prepared for any weather with warm clothing, shorts, bathing suit, hiking boots, fishing pole, tarp shelter, games, etc. RAFTING: First choice is wetsuit & booties (can be rented from guides, first-come, first-serve...see order form below) ... Or wear wool socks, old tennis shoes (NO THONGS) & raingear ... or shorts & bathing suit, & windbreaker (may be chilly) ... bring sunscreen ... croakies for sunglasses ... & leave a change of clothes in your car. Standard life jackets will be provided, along with a substantial lunch midway through the trip! TO REGISTER: If you have questions, please contact Robbi Alberts at w: (206) 433-0995, ext. 126 or h: (425) 235-6348 or email "robbia@speea.org". Limited space is available. To reserve your spot, complete the coupon below, and return with your check(s) to: SPEEA Rafting Trip, 15205 - 52nd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98188. RESERVATION FORM - SPEEA Rafting/Camping trip Enclosed is my check (payable to SPEEA) in the amount of $_____ for __ people at $55 each ($60 after May 1) for the June 2 rafting trip. Name____________________________________Clock # ___________ Email: _____________________________________________________ Phone: W: ( ___ )________________ H: ( ___ ) ____________________ Address ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ GUEST(s) NAME(s) : ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ WETSUIT
ORDER FORM: ___ wetsuit & booties @ $10 each ___ booties only @ $3 each (Please include Name, Height, Weight & Shoe Size for each order) Nominations sought for the Stephen Pezzini H.O.P.E. Award It's time to ask for nominations from the members for candidates to receive this year's "Stephen Pezzini Helping Other People Excel (H.O.P.E.) Award". This award was established to recognize a current member of a SPEEA bargaining unit who "volunteers time and effort to benefit their community, as well as being active in their union -- a person who excels beyond expectations." The nominator must submit a brief write-up stating what the nominee's activities are in both SPEEA and their community. If you have a person you'd like to nominate who fits this criteria, please complete and return the coupon below -- or email your nomination to "robbia@speea.org" by the April 15th deadline. 1) Must be an active
SPEEA member. NOMINATION -- Stephen Pezzini H.O.P.E. Award I'd like to nominate ___________________________________ to receive this award. Attached is a detailed explanation of both SPEEA activities and Community Activities performed by this nominee. Your Name _______________________________________ Clock # ___________ W. Phone (_____) __________________ H. Phone (_____) __________________ Submittal deadline is May 1, 2000 - mail to: SPEEA
(HOPE award) - 15205 52nd Ave S - Seattle, WA 98188 Thank You from Food Bank Dear Members of SPEEA, On behalf of the many different Union members in Snohomish County, we THANK YOU. Your donation of badly-needed food items and $1,179.45 came at just the right moment. We have a large Freezer that went out on us and we did not have any money to get it repaired. With your greatly-needed donation, we will now have the means to not only fix our freezer but to give $20 gift certificates. When we give food out, we like to give a gift certificate with it. That way, the person can buy milk/bread or whatever. Some of the Union members are too proud to ask for any help. It is our job to advise our members that we stick together and when we help one, we help all. Again, please THANK all your members for what they did. If only they knew how much their kindness will affect people in need, they would feel proud. Fraternally, /s/ Bob Monize |
| Post | SPOTLITE Ads 15205 52nd Ave S - Seattle, Washington 98188 |
| Fax | SPOTLITE Ads (206) 248-3990 |
| WayneS@speea.org |
Classified advertising
is also available on Boeing's internal web at http://classifieds.web.boeing.com
HOUSING
E. Hill Kent Home for sale, $209,950. 13803 SE 275th PL - 1993. 3 BD, 2-3/4 BA, 2 story, 2 car gar. http:// i19.yimg.com/19/c40880a5/h/c360b6cd/laura27house.gif
Penthouse Condo in Ravenna/Seattle. 3 BR, 21/2 BA, private roof-top deck w/hot tub, view. Close to bus, Burke-Gilman trail, UW. $339,000. (425) 771-7625.
For sale by retired SPEEA member in sunny Sequim. Home plus cottage on 2+ acres. Beautiful mountain view. Large private rec. area. (360) 681-0355.
PROPERTY
Best deal-who wants to run a car fixing business? $235K. Mechanic shop & 2 BR house on 1/2 acre. South end of Seattle. (206) 234-8949.
80 acres - Ferry County, NE Washington. Building sites, power, timber on Kettle River. Asking $80K - will entertain offers. (206) 878-0499.
VACATION RENTALS
Cabin at Copalis Beach, WA (5 miles north of ocean shores). Sleeps 5. Two blocks from beach. $75.00 per night. For information call (253)529-5444.
North Oregon Coast - oceanview, 2 BR/2 BA, fireplace, pool/spa, near beach and golf. Rates: $105-125/night, $750/week summer CONDOBEACH@aol.com or 1-888-349-5304.
HAWAII, ALL ISLANDS, AFFORDABLE PRICES, AIR - CAR - CONDO RENTALS. CALL PENNIE @ 360-652-9014
Maui Condo: comforts of home, overlooking beach. 1BD, 1BA, SLP4, discounts offered, children 12 & under free. Owner (253)839-6705 or email rijvrj@gte.net
If you are going to Rio, please inquire at email: leweiss@ruralrj.com.br for information on guided sightseeing tours. It might complete your vacation. (253) 838-4276.
Whistler luxury 3 BD, 3 BA Townhouse, close to everything, great views. Skiing now, golf/tennis/hiking later. Complete info on web site: www.whistlerrental.net
Experience Tuscany with Martha and Damon Bolton. Affordable prices, Oct. 10-21. For more information call (360) 829-2098 or 1-800-222-6873.
STEREO
Antique stereo. 1939 Packard Bell (radio/phono) w/31 signature records; Just $325. Paid $800 16 yrs ago. Can send record list. Exc. cond. (425) 432-8916.
VEHICLES
FOR SALE: '98 ESCORT ZX2, 5 SPD, A/C, Spoiler, 27K miles, Excellent condition, $8200 obo. Call 360-652-9014.
'87 Chevy Nova 4 door, 160K miles, AC, automatic trans., runs well, never been in an accident. $1400 obo. (425) 347-1196.
'92 Toyota Corolla DX, 4 door, 5 speed. Excellent condition. 103K miles. $3500. (206) 932-8584.
'71 Jaguar XKE Series III, V12 engine restoration project, no rust. Best offer. (425) 885-9666.
SPORTING GOODS
Fishing tackle: seeking those forgotten tackle boxes in the garage or attic containing wooden salmon or bass plugs, reels, creels, poles. Call Larry (425) 392-1632 (evenings).
Hockey goalie gear: Cooper chest pad & helmet; Vaugh leg pads; Sherwood catcher; Heaton blocker; $500/offer (very good to exc. cond.) (253) 396-1536.
XC ski machine. Sears Lifestyler 2000p in original box. $299 new, Sell for $50. (425) 347-0763.
FURNITURE
Danish teak teen bed set with mattress. $80. (425) 255-5802.
Fisher woodstove, 2 doors. Will heat 800 sq. ft. $350 obo. (206) 878-0499.
White day bed, foam mattress, good condition. $40 obo. (425) 778-5229 evenings.
TOOLS/APPLIANCES
10 inch Craftsman motorized table saw on stand with clamping mitre gauge, $120 obo. 71/2 inch Craftsman radial arm mitre saw, $75 obo. Both excellent cond. (206) 526-5904.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Ludwig, early 1900s, upright piano. $250. (425) 255-5802.
Full size cello with case and bow. Good cond. Great for student! $600. (253) 631-0357.
COMPUTERS
Mac clone. Power Computing PowerCenter Pro210, 604e processor, 60 Mhz bus, 64M/2Gb, ethernet, ATIMach 64/3D, 16X CD, 17" display, modem, OS8, Umax 1220S scanner, extra SW. $300. (425) 746-4703.
MISCELLANEOUS
Need a DOG? Contact the Doghouse (Puget Sound area) reblkmn@yahoo.com
#1 bareroot roses, direct from grower. Selected for Puget Sound climate. 25 varieties. Visit Kennydale Garden, or nwrose.com. (425) 255-6756.
Floor to ceiling medical pole for support for partially disabled or elderly. $140. (425) 702-8583.
Wheelchair - like new, blue and with all the goodies! A quickie manual standard. best offer. (253) 839-7158.
Royal Doulton "Sarabande" china. Six 5-piece place settings; six each salad & dinner plates, cream and rim soups; 11 serving pieces. $3000 ($4121 retail). (425) 347-0763.
WANTED
GERMAN WAR SOUVENIRS from WWI & WWII. Fair cash for authentic items. What do you have? Call Ron (425) 432-3282.
Van pool riders from Bonney Lake to Kent Space Center. 7 am to 3:30 pm. (253) 862-8249.
Inexpensive, collapsible ping pong table for the kids. Our old one broke. Call Barbara (425) 745-3180.
SERVICES
Party Games & Karaoke Rentals starting at $10.00 Rent games like: Tiger Toss, Balloon Bust, Fishing pond and more. Also Karaoke machines for rent. (253) 566-4067 or fax: (253)566-6891 for info.
Small backhoe for small spaces, trenching holes, spreading, burying, etc. $50/hr Whidbey Island, $65/hr & travel time mainland. (360) 730-1829.
Professional wedding photographer, will develop and print film, and deliver BOTH proofs and negatives for the set price of $1,000. Sarah Church (253) 946-6950.
Rising utility bills? Reduce your dependency on utility companies by using alternative and renewable energy. Tom (360) 579-2730 or www.renewable-engineering.com
Web page design. Does your org. or small business need a web presence? Contact Dori at (360) 579-2730 or visit our web site at www.netwebbers.com
Discover the Natural & Organic Wholefood Solution. Get started on your road to health & longevity with our powerful, yet simple Wholefood Supplements. Organic Solutions. (425) 747-3594 or 1-877-425-3594.
Subscription
rate: $2 per year, $2 of the annual membership dues is paid as a year's subscription
to the SPEEA SPOTLITE.
Reproduction rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without
permission of the editor. When permission is granted, material must be used in
context and credit given to the SPEEA SPOTLITE.
Original articles and feedback are solicited.
Executive Director, Charles Bofferding
Chairman of Communications, Jerry Robinson
Editor, Robbi Alberts
Art Direction, Wayne Schwisow
