Previous Contract Updates

It appears Boeing is using a strategy of proposing a “low-ball” contract so that in the end, the Company hopes you will be happy with a mediocre offer. This is a dangerous strategy the Company is playing. Our members will not be satisfied with the status quo while the Company posts record profits and backlogs – It’s Our Time This Time!

Today as the Head Table met to hear reports from the various subcommittees, District President Tom Wroblewski voiced his opinion over the Company’s offer to make a meager change to entry level rates. The proposed $1.28 was an absolute insult to the thousands of employees still within progression steps that hired in at near poverty wages. Most employees won’t see a penny UNLESS they fall below the newly proposed minimums.

District President Wroblewski told the Company if they want to make a proposal at the table and immediately post it, we can as well.

Therefore, today the Union presented the Company our counter proposal of increasing the minimum rates for ALL labor grades by $4.50 an hour. In addition, the Union proposal gives that increase to ALL members in progression steps.

This Union proposal is reasonable and justified after no movement in 16 years. During that same 16-year time period, minimum wage in Washington State increased $3.82 an hour.

The Union has heard the membership say that wage issues are very important to the entire membership. The Union believes the wage issues can only be properly addressed by improving many points. ALL members must have a GWI every year of the contract. The Company must attach future GWI and COLA’s to the minimum rates or else we will be in the same situation three years from now. Progression steps must be shortened and members within progression must gain more money per step. We must have a COLA formula that truly represents the cost-of-living increases in our area.

Nearly every subcommittee has stated if things don’t substantially improve, it does not look like we will have an offer to recommend to the membership. The Company negotiators standard response remains they are “not interested” in making improvements you have identified as important. Our response to them is NOT ACCEPTABLE – It’s Our Time This Time!

We need your help in telling the Company you are “not interested” in what they have shown so far.

We will keep you posted of any movement on the Company's part to address your issues, but as of now, there is no measurable progress on your issues to report.

In Solidarity
Your Union Negotiating Team