In January and February, Boeing announced a PCO
job action that will impact members in the 635 (Shipping/Receiving/Distribution
Facilitator) and the 613 jobs (Materials Processor/Requirements
Facilitator). The first phase is to create a new Shipping and
Distribution job (611) using portions of the 635 job. Then the
635 job will be revised to a receiving job. At a later date, the
second phase will be to combine the 635 receiving job with the
613 MPRF job, which will result in the new 614 job.The announcement of such job actions are understandably upsetting to many of our members who may be affected. These job actions, coupled with the fact that these jobs may also be impacted by the Company's new Material Delivery and Inventory Process, has generated numerous questions among our members.
As the Company begins these job actions, it is important for members to understand the Union's role and contractual rights in any new job creation or job combination.
The Union participates in the Jobs Committee, which is comprised of both Union and Company representatives. However, Boeing has the unilateral right to create new jobs or combine existing jobs. While the Union can offer input and suggestions to the job descriptions for clarity, Boeing is not required to incorporate Union suggestions into a final job description or combination. Likewise, the Union cannot stop Boeing from making a job combination.
Contractually, the Union is responsible for making sure any job combination or new job is assigned to the correct labor grade and employees are paid the proper rate. After reviewing a new or revised job description, the Union can challenge the labor grade based on the classification guides.
Per the contract (Section 13.7, page 48), the Company will populate any new jobs (not job combinations) with senior volunteers from employees currently assigned to the existing jobs. If there are insufficient volunteers, the Company has the right to select the required number of individuals to populate the job. Any employees choosing to populate the new job will also retain their contractual job rights to previous jobs.
Union Business Rep Tom Wroblewski, who chairs the Union Jobs Committee, has been inundated with questions on the proposed job actions. Tom stated, "The Company's presentation on the PCO job actions gave the impression that the Union has agreed to these actions. The fact is they are Company proposals. The Union is here to help answer questions members may have and to challenge the labor grade if we feel it is not properly assigned."
Because these particular PCO job actions are proposed at the same time the Material Delivery and Inventory Process is being introduced, there is even more concern about its potential impact. If your area or job is affected, document your new duties and the movement of work, as well as how the headcount and personnel in your area are shifted. Keep your Steward informed of these changes so the Union can ensure all members' contractual rights are protected.