Bal Harbour, Fla.
In 2000, 23,000 members of SPEEA/IFPTE struck Boeing Corporation at its Seattle facilities when Boeing attempted to impose a substandard collective bargaining settlement upon them. With overwhelming support and assistance from the AFL-CIO and its affiliates, after the longest white-collar strike in memory, SPEEA/IFPTE prevailed and won a contract that substantially improved the wages, benefits and working conditions of its members.
On the heels of its victory, SPEEA/IFPTE organized over 4,000 employees at Boeing’s Wichita facilities in the largest private-sector election held in 2000. In subsequent negotiations with Boeing, SPEEA/IFPTE successfully concluded a first contract.
Since then, Boeing has done everything in its power to undermine SPEEA/IFPTE in Wichita. First it encouraged a failed effort to decertify SPEEA/IFPTE. Now, in an apparent attempt to punish Wichita employees for staying with SPEEA/IFPTE, and to encourage future efforts to decertify SPEEA/IFPTE, Boeing is taking a union-busting stance in negotiations by proposing terms and conditions of employment substantially inferior to those enjoyed by non-represented employees.
Boeing’s conduct is unconscionable and intolerable. The AFL-CIO will contact Boeing directly in an attempt to convince the company to change course and negotiate a fair contract, and the AFL-CIO and its affiliates will do everything in their power to support SPEEA/IFPTE’s struggle to defend the interests of the workers it represents at Boeing’s Wichita facilities.