Published: Monday, March 9, 2009
Boeing engineers union: 6 vie for leadership spots
EVERETT -- The Boeing Co.'s engineering union will elect new leaders this week as the labor group battles layoffs and outsourcing issues with the aerospace giant.
The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace has three positions on its executive board up for grabs with six candidates vying for the spots. Ballots were mailed out in late February and are due back by noon Wednesday. The new Northwest vice presidents will serve two-year terms beginning March 25.
The election lacks the controversy that clouded the union's last board election, when SPEEA members recalled four executive board officers. But the vote comes at a point when Boeing is laying off workers and is weighing its outsourcing model. SPEEA and Boeing leaders have been at odds over the company's approach to the 787 and how Boeing handles SPEEA's other bargaining units. With three of the seven board positions, the Northwest members have a significant say in union matters.
Besides layoffs and outsourcing, many of the candidates identified the need to increase participation among new, younger members as a priority. Both of Boeing's major unions in the region face a demographics battle with a majority of members rapidly approaching retirement. In Boeing's last hiring phase, which came to a halt last fall, the company saw a surge in employees in their 20s. A gap in ages, union leaders fear, could give Boeing an opportunity to divide members.
SPEEA and Boeing signed a four-year labor contract last fall for nearly 20,000 workers in the Puget Sound region. But the two sides had a tough time negotiating a contract for about 700 engineers at Boeing's defense site in Wichita, Kan. Members there voted down Boeing's initial contract offer and were faced with a strike vote last Thursday.
Two of the three Northwest vice presidents -- Larry Marrell and Walt Ditlefsen -- are running for re-election. The four new contenders include Richard Wichels, Ryan Rule, Kevin Pak and Kurt Schuetz.
Marrell, a council representative for 18 years and a contract negotiations team member, pledges to help Boeing find ways to cut costs without laying off workers as a means of preserving pensions, medical benefits and wages.
Ditlefsen, a 30-year member with council and area representative experience, believes members need to know their union is still relevant to their lives. He says that members want leaders focused on issues, not "petty internal issues."
Wichels lists 35 years of union activism for experience. He sees job outsourcing as the primary issue facing the region's members, saying it typically costs the company money in the long run and kills employee morale.
Rule, a council representative and seven-year member, thinks the division of interests is a threat to SPEEA. Rule says both defense and commercial members need to stick together as do younger and older SPEEA workers.
Pak, a member since 2001, has an master's in business administration and is pursuing a law degree. He believes the key to stable employment for Boeing is having workers trained for multiple projects. He'll promote training opportunities for members.
Schuetz, a council representative and negotiations team support member, says the union's approach to communications with members isn't working. He wants to see members' leaders and money "at home working for us."
For full statements from the candidates, go to SPEEA's Web site: www.speea.org.
The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace has three positions on its executive board up for grabs with six candidates vying for the spots. Ballots were mailed out in late February and are due back by noon Wednesday. The new Northwest vice presidents will serve two-year terms beginning March 25.
The election lacks the controversy that clouded the union's last board election, when SPEEA members recalled four executive board officers. But the vote comes at a point when Boeing is laying off workers and is weighing its outsourcing model. SPEEA and Boeing leaders have been at odds over the company's approach to the 787 and how Boeing handles SPEEA's other bargaining units. With three of the seven board positions, the Northwest members have a significant say in union matters.
Besides layoffs and outsourcing, many of the candidates identified the need to increase participation among new, younger members as a priority. Both of Boeing's major unions in the region face a demographics battle with a majority of members rapidly approaching retirement. In Boeing's last hiring phase, which came to a halt last fall, the company saw a surge in employees in their 20s. A gap in ages, union leaders fear, could give Boeing an opportunity to divide members.
SPEEA and Boeing signed a four-year labor contract last fall for nearly 20,000 workers in the Puget Sound region. But the two sides had a tough time negotiating a contract for about 700 engineers at Boeing's defense site in Wichita, Kan. Members there voted down Boeing's initial contract offer and were faced with a strike vote last Thursday.
Two of the three Northwest vice presidents -- Larry Marrell and Walt Ditlefsen -- are running for re-election. The four new contenders include Richard Wichels, Ryan Rule, Kevin Pak and Kurt Schuetz.
Marrell, a council representative for 18 years and a contract negotiations team member, pledges to help Boeing find ways to cut costs without laying off workers as a means of preserving pensions, medical benefits and wages.
Ditlefsen, a 30-year member with council and area representative experience, believes members need to know their union is still relevant to their lives. He says that members want leaders focused on issues, not "petty internal issues."
Wichels lists 35 years of union activism for experience. He sees job outsourcing as the primary issue facing the region's members, saying it typically costs the company money in the long run and kills employee morale.
Rule, a council representative and seven-year member, thinks the division of interests is a threat to SPEEA. Rule says both defense and commercial members need to stick together as do younger and older SPEEA workers.
Pak, a member since 2001, has an master's in business administration and is pursuing a law degree. He believes the key to stable employment for Boeing is having workers trained for multiple projects. He'll promote training opportunities for members.
Schuetz, a council representative and negotiations team support member, says the union's approach to communications with members isn't working. He wants to see members' leaders and money "at home working for us."
For full statements from the candidates, go to SPEEA's Web site: www.speea.org.
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