SPEEA, Spirit continue contract debate

Published 12:38 pm Thursday, August 13, 2009

Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems went back to the negotiating table today with engineering union SPEEA.

Last month, SPEEA members at the Wichita, Kansas site voted down Spirit’s contract by a large margin – 91 percent of the members who voted rejected the offer. SPEEA represents 774 engineers at the Spirit location.

The two sides reconvened today, but SPEEA leaders say they’re displeased with Spirit’s offer.

“Four years ago our engineers helped start Spirit and make it successful after its divestiture from The Boeing Company,” said Ray Goforth, SPEEA executive director, in a press release. “Executives pocketed millions and now want to pick the pockets of workers.”

Spirit and SPEEA are trying to negotiate a 3 ½ year contract.

Boeing and SPEEA signed a new 4 year contract for engineers and technical workers in the Puget Sound region late last year.