SPEEA rallies for Boeing workers in Wichita
Published 12:25 pm Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Boeing engineers and technical workers in Everett turned out this morning in support of fellow union members in Wichita, rallying outside the company’s “twin towers” here.
SPEEA’s 700 union members at the Kansas site will vote on a Boeing contract tomorrow. Union leaders are urging members to reject the contract.
“There were no negotiations,” said Cynthia Cole, president of SPEEA.
The union says Boeing’s offer to Wichita SPEEA members is inferior to the contract it signed with Puget Sound region workers.
More importantly, SPEEA leaders fear that Boeing plans to sell its Wichita site. The union is seeking guarantees on pension and early retiree-medical benefits should Boeing close the facility.
Wichita employees are working on Boeing’s 767-based tankers for Japan and Italy as well as the Wedgetail aircraft for Australia. Boeing will finish all three programs by the end of the year.
“It really looks like the company is in the process of closing down this site,” said Ray Goforth, executive director of SPEEA.
