Previous Contract Updates

Contract Update August 25th

The Subcommittees have concluded their work after many hours of further discussion, clarification and trading proposals. While little progress was made, today all the unresolved issues from subcommittees were passed to the Main Table. The Company still appears to remain “not interested” in many issues you have identified as important.

We told them, by the Company’s self imposed deadline, there are only 72 hours left and still a lot of work to do. The Company indicated tomorrow morning they would present a full counter proposal to the one the Union presented on Saturday. They noted the offer tomorrow would not be their last, best and final, but it would be close.

You can be sure that they will gauge your reaction to their latest proposal tomorrow on the shop floor before formulating their last, best and final offer. Make sure management hears what you have identified as your top issues, which we have been telling them at the bargaining table for over four months.

The Company is making a mistake – they are not listening nor are they willing to make substantial improvements. You have said in every membership survey, shop floor meeting and e-mail message, that you want improvements in all areas – not takeaways.

Calculator – Numbers They Want You To See
They will be putting out their “fuzzy math” calculator again which tries to convince you they are already paying enough for your benefits and wages while ignoring the $13 billion profits you have generated – they can do better. Managers will be trying to “help” members individually see how good the offer is with help from “their” calculator. Just another selling tactic by the Company because they don’t want to up the offer. You deserve better. 

Facts to keep in mind:
You all currently have Boeing insurance. Do you want to pay more for basically the same coverage or do you want to make real improvements? Don’t buy Boeing’s spin that it is costing so much for health care you should pay more. Remember $13,000,000,000 in profits since 2002. They can afford to make improvements – It’s Our Time This Time!

When they highlight how good the VIP match is and how much it costs them, keep in mind that SPEEA and other payrolls receive a 75¢ match rather than our current 50¢ match – so here, we KNOW they can do better. 

The calculator figures the costs of pension, but under the current formula for the last year reported (2006), Boeing did not contribute one cent to our pension plan. 

Finally, Boeing has the nerve to add in taxes, which EVERY employer is required to pay. If they want to put what they pay for Social Security, then note that it mirrors what you pay Social Security – making it a zero on any calculator.

The fuzzy math calculator doesn’t add in any of these facts! It is designed to show you how good they are treating you and how generous the offer is. 

The most important fact to remember about their calculator – whatever the equation or numbers, it adds up to ZERO if you don’t have a job. Now is the time to push hard for job security to ensure that all our members will be here to vote on the next contract three years from now. 

So tomorrow after you see their new proposal, keep up the good work and let your manager know It’s Our Time This Time to make improvements. Staying united and strong, we will get the contract we deserve.

In Unity,

Your Negotiating Team