Wednesday, August 22, 2012
SEATTLE – Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges were filed against The Boeing Company on Tuesday, Aug. 21 after company officials told employees they are prohibited from saying negative things about their employment. Such discussions by union members are protected by the National Labor Relation Act (NLRA). Employers’ efforts to curb these discussions violate federal law.
The charges were filed by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001, after representatives from Boeing Ethics made the comments to new employees during the weekly orientation meeting on Friday, Aug.17.
In addition to this obvious violation of labor law, SPEEA has received numerous complaints from employees about managers telling them to remove and not display union material at their personal workstation. Employees also report finding union-related items removed from individual work areas when they arrive at work to start a new work day.
SPEEA is gathering additional information and has asked members to document and report any such conversations with managers or the removal of items from their desks.
SPEEA is presently negotiating new contracts with Boeing for 23,000 engineers and technical workers, primarily in the Puget Sound region. The union presented its full proposal to Boeing on June 15. The company has refused to present its offer to the union. Existing contracts expire Oct. 6.
A local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), SPEEA represents 26,560 aerospace professionals at Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, and Triumph Composite Systems, Inc. in Spokane, Wash.
Contacts: Bill Dugovich, Communications Director, (206) 674-7368 or 206-683-9857 (cell)
Ray Goforth, Executive Director, 206-433-0991