Boeing Strike Grinds On

Asian Aerospace 2000 -- Boeing and its striking engineers and technicians union agreed to meet with the government's lead mediator on Monday in an effort to end a two-week strike that has slowed aircraft deliveries to customer airlines. Other military and commercial aircraft projects and services also ground to a halt as roughly 19,000 of the union's 22,000 members walked off the job February 9.

While the company managed to deliver its first aircraft since the strike began, a 747-400F to Atlas Air, at least five more have been delayed. The union says the strike has prevented delivery of about 17 aircraft to customers.

Boeing toughened its stance towards the union last week, with CEO Phil Condit saying the company could hold a "a long, long time" against the strike. The offer to the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) was a good one, Condit said. It increased wages a total of 8% in the first year and 4.5% in each of the following two years. Similar US labor agreements in 1999 averaged only 2.7% a year, he said. The union also was offered 100% paid medical premiums unless the plan's cost outpaced the rate of inflation.

SPEEA members want guaranteed wage increases, instead of the contract's merit-based raises, a lump sum bonus as well as protection of existing benefits. Boeing's offer to technical workers included raises totaling 5.5% the first year and 4.5% for each of the next two years. Of this, 3% in the first year and 2% in the third year were guaranteed pay raises.

Condit said the company would like to be more generous, but 8% brought engineers up to market rates. Boeing management also has a commitment to keep Boeing competitive in the long run. "It doesn't do any good for us to build a company that can't complete and go slowly out of business," he said.

SPEEA technicians and engineers are needed to perform FAA-required inspections and sign-offs on new Boeing transports before they can be delivered to the customer. The 25% of engineers who are not striking, as well as properly trained management personnel, are being shifted to perform those tasks, Boeing said. The Seattle-based aerospace manufacturer estimates the strike is costing SPEEA members about $3.4 million per day in lost wages. The union does not have a strike fund to help workers get by without paychecks.
Although SPEEA represents Boeing's engineers and technicians at the bargaining table, membership is voluntary and only about 63% of the group pays union dues. Boeing believed about 75% of engineers and 84% of technicians were participating in the job action. SPEEA said the total of striking workers is closer to 20,000.

By Paul Proctor