Boeing Engineers File Charge of Unfair Labor Practices

Boeing Co.’s engineers union said Wednesday that it has filed a charge of unfair labor practices over the aerospace giant’s decision to merge its training unit into a new venture with FlightSafety International.

The Seattle Professional Engineering Employees Assn., which represents more than 23,000 workers at Seattle-based Boeing, said it filed a complaint asking the National Labor Relations Board to prevent Boeing from completing its deal until the legal issues are resolved.

Charles Bofferding, executive director of SPEEA, said the union had begun negotiations with Boeing after being surprised by the March 10 announcement of the deal with FlightSafety, which affects more than 600 Boeing employees, including about 240 union members.

The two sides will meet again Friday to continue their negotiations.