SEATTLE—The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001, Boeing’s professional aerospace worker union, will donate $99,000 to the International Association of Machinists District Lodge 751 (IAM) strike fund to assist in their strike efforts against the Boeing Company.
The funds will come in installments of $16,500 every two weeks for the next three months, should the strike continue that long, and will be taken from the union’s reserve funds.
SPEEA’s elected seven-member Executive Board voted Thursday, October 3, to approve the funding with Union President John Dimas stating:
“Twenty-four years ago, when our union was on strike against Boeing, other labor unions stepped up to provide financial support for our members with donations to our hardship fund,” said Dimas. “We are proud to return the favor today.”
The decision came just three days after Boeing cancelled health insurance coverage for striking Machinists.
“Boeing leadership has talked for weeks about wanting a ‘reset’ in its relationship with its unionized workforce,” said SPEEA Executive Director Ray Goforth. “Cutting off health insurance for the children and spouses of your employees certainly resets the relationship, but not in a positive way. Truly, it’s a huge step backwards.”
SPEEA’s Executive Board also called upon Boeing to return to the bargaining table to continue negotiations.
“Boeing has very real problems with quality, safety, profitability and credibility,” said Goforth. “The first step toward solving all of those problems is getting the Machinists back to work with a collective bargaining agreement that rewards them for the value they create.”
IAM, which encompasses more than 33,000 Boeing employees, has been on strike against Boeing since September 13. Throughout negotiations the key demand for the union was for a 40% increase in wages over a three-year period, modifications to retirement contributions and healthcare plans, and a guarantee to keep production in the Pacific Northwest.
The aerospace manufacturing company presented IAM with their “best and final offer” on September 23 for a 30% increase over four years, plus bonuses, and a revisited 401k plan. IAM denied this offer and the strike is ongoing.
Featured Image: Photo courtesy of IAM 751
