Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Boeing / Aerospace


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Friday, October 17, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Comments (0)     E-mail article     Print view

Boeing and SPEEA begin serious discussion

Union negotiators representing Boeing engineers and technical workers said a meeting Thursday with management's negotiating team was the...

Seattle Times aerospace reporter

Union negotiators representing Boeing engineers and technical workers said a meeting Thursday with management's negotiating team was the first to engage in real discussion. The talks were "heated and confrontational" at times and agreement was confined to minor, uncontroversial issues.

"The only positive thing from the meeting was that they gave us reasons they are saying no to a few things," said Ray Goforth, executive director of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) in an interview Friday.

Goforth said that the two sides did tentatively agree on a list of things, but that these were all cosmetic, clerical or items that will be unchanged from the last contract. "None of them are substantive," he said.

Still, heated discussion counted as progress from no discussion, he said.

In a message to company managers about the meeting Boeing's chief negotiator, Doug Kight, expressed cautious optimism.

"At times the talks have been difficult — as is the case in most contract negotiations — but we also believe that we have made substantive progress," Kight wrote. "That said, a lot of hard work remains to be done."

SPEEA is negotiating contracts covering nearly 21,000 workers in Washington, Oregon, Utah and California.

The two sides begin full-time, intensive main-table talks at the Seatac Doubletree Inn on Oct. 28

Negotiators hope to have a proposal ready by mid-November for mail-in voting. Existing contracts expire Dec. 1.

Boeing commercial aircraft production workers, who are represented by the International Association of Machinists, have been on strike since Sept. 6.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Boeing news headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

Comments
No comments have been posted to this article. Start the conversation.

advertising

Boeing warns of 49 possible layoffs locally

Boeing breaks ground for historic SC plant

Boeing facility death was suicide

Court gives $1.1B tanker contract back to Boeing

Dubai Airshow: Boeing wins first orders for 737s

Advertising

Video

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Coming in this Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine: Pastor Braxton's mission is to preach a message that appeals to everyone.

PNW Magazine | Easy As Pie
Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Less is more: Group rides, good gas mileage have led to a scooter swarm in Seattlenew
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising