Union at Boeing Plant in Kansas to Vote on Pact

Members of the second-largest union at Boeing Co.’s Wichita, Kan., plant will vote this week on a four-year contract that includes a lump-sum payment upon ratification and guaranteed pay raises in three of the four years.

Negotiators for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace agreed to present the new proposal to union members for a vote Wednesday but did not tell them whether to accept the deal.

“I cannot emphasize enough that we have gotten everything we can from the company without taking additional action,” union official Steve Smith said. “Now, it is up to the members to decide.”

Wichita workers twice have rejected offers from Boeing. In May, they authorized a strike. Union negotiators said last week that a third contract rejection would result in a strike.

“We’re obviously hoping the members will give it consideration and contemplation and keep the offer in perspective,” Boeing spokesman Fred Solis said. “There are some things in there that weren’t in there with the original offer back in March, such as the incentive plan.”

If the contract is approved, employees will receive a one-time bonus of $1,800 to be paid upon ratification. Salary increases would come from wage pools of 3.5% in the first year of the contract and 3% in the second and third years.

Also, employees would be guaranteed raises of $750 in the first year, $500 in the second year and $750 in the fourth year, with no guarantee in the third year.

Solis said the union and company would work out an incentive plan for union members if the contract is approved. The contract covers about 3,400 employees at the Wichita plant who rejected a previous three-year offer in May, with 70% opposing the deal.

From Associated Press