december 2004
Transcription
december 2004
DECEMBER 2004 THE By Bill Dugovich SPEEA Communications Director F rank Wright’s voice was slightly upbeat – a signal that perhaps after several years in the rough, he and wife Patty received some good news from The Boeing Company. Indeed, Frank had good news. The couple who, combined, have 53 years experience at Boeing, were going out to dinner to celebrate. Thanks to a helpful manager in Frank’s office in Customer Service at Boeing and an understanding and patient manager for Patty at Labinal Corporation in Everett and some help from SPEEA contract administrators, they are both back working in the aerospace industry. “I’m going back to work in the field I was trained,” Patty said. “It’s a big relief. I can go get my hair done, and we can buy the tennis shoes we’ve wanted.” The two managers, along with Frank and Patty, found an acceptable solution to Boeing’s concerns about Patty taking a job with a supplier. After laying Patty off from her job as a technical product designer in July 2003, Boeing almost dealt the couple a second blow by saying Frank, a publications analyst at Boeing, would have to leave his job if his wife worked at Labinal. A French firm with 2,500 employees in the U.S., Labinal supplies wiring for the Boeing 767. In July, the company received a contract to supply electrical wiring for the 7E7. Accepting the 7E7 contract, Labinal said it would allocate the work to three plants: Everett, Wash.; Chihuahua, Mexico; and Casablanca, Morocco. continued on page 5 2 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 Thanks for the recall list Working the issues – SPEEA issues vs. non-SPEEA issues S ome groups within our union are moving to establish priorities for SPEEA business. Others want to consider issues not directly related to our union. These two efforts, SPEEA issues and non-SPEEA issues, can cause controversy. Union priorities were discussed by the Executive Board and Council officers at this year’s Leadership Conference. The group agreed jobs, compensation, benefits, and working conditions are SPEEA’s priorities. In addition, it was agreed that political involvement and legislative action are key to working these priority issues. In addition to these priority SPEEA issues, our union works assorted non-SPEEA issues. One example is a motion brought before the Council on a bill in Congress dealing with DNA testing. I see two problems with supporting this type of non-SPEEA and non-priority issues. First, there is no consensus from members to support action and no way to determine if support exists. Second, SPEEA’s credibility is undermined when we lobby politicians on issues outside our expertise. When we do lobby our issues inside our expertise, we are largely successful. A recent example is the testimony of SPEEA staff member Stan Sorscher before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. IFPTE Legislative Director Matt Biggs said “All committee members, Democrats and Republicans alike, were very impressed with Sorscher’s insights.” It is this focus on SPEEA issues that maintains the support of members and maintains our credibility with elected officials. We should represent the views of members on important issues and should find a way to poll members to determine theirs views on issues we work politically. David Montgomery Product Engineer Sign-up at www. s p eea . org to get t he la s t es t news , ev en t s an d la bor is s ues ha p p en in g in y our area em ailed t o your hom e! I just received a nice letter about the ‘2004 SPEEA Holiday Outreach.’ I want to thank you and everyone in SPEEA for their generosity and their holiday spirit of giving and for making such an effort to brighten the season for the children and less fortunate. I also want to thank SPEEA for the recall list. I have been back at Boeing for over two weeks now. The fact that I belonged to a union is the only reason I’m back. I was on top of sending in my form in time, but I appreciated getting a reminder (including the forms), so that I did not forget. It’s great to be back at work. Thanks again, SPEEA! I had just completed four quarters at Edmonds Community College and had three more quarters to go to get the degree. A couple of my fellow students did not keep up on the ‘recall list’, and now they are sorry. When we were laid off, we were told that we were probably never coming back to Boeing. They were wrong. Thanks again for all your help! Warren Williamson Manufacturing Engineer Dan Hartley Airport honors SPEEA past president Executive Director Charles Bofferding Executive Board Jennifer D. MacKay Tom McCarty David Patzwald Cynthia Cole Ron Mathes David Landress Bill Hartig SPEEA Council Officers Jimmie Mathis Hoyt Hillman Michelle Cooper Chair Treasurer Secretary Midwest Regional Council Officers Debbie Logsdon Burt Shah Judi Hurd Chair Treasurer Secretary Northwest Regional Council Officers Alton Folks Bob Wilkerson Paul Wojciechowski SPEEA Publications R Bill Dugovich Lori Dupuis Rich Kremnetz Karen McLean speea@speea.org www.speea.org “This was an example of how Dan, through his volunteering at SPEEA and elsewhere, fought for SPEEA’s issues and interests,” said Joel Funfar, SPEEA Council Rep. “It shows his commitment to SPEEA, Boeing, and aerospace,” he said. Headquarters 15205 52nd Avenue S Seattle, WA 98188 [206] 433.0991 eflecting SPEEA members’ active role in their communities, the King County International Airport Master Plan was dedicated to Dan Hartley, who served as SPEEA president from 1991 to 1994. Hartley, a Boeing flight test engineer, passed away March 17, 2004 at the age of 70. Hartley was honored in large part because of his contribution as an original member of the Airport Round Table. The airport initiated the master plan in 1995 to provide guidelines for future airport development to support a large variety of aircraft and a diverse tenant base while adhering to safety, environmental and noise policies. The plan became final earlier this year. Funfar replaced Hartley as SPEEA representative on the King County Airport Round Table. President Treasurer Secretary NW Regional VP NW Regional VP NW Regional VP MW Regional VP Chair Treasurer Secretary Communications Director Art Director Printing/Mail Manager Publications Editor Everett 2414 106th St. SW Everett, WA 98204 [425] 355.2883 Wichita 973 S Glendale Wichita, KS 67218 [316] 682.0262 3 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 Thanksgiving tidbits President’s Corner By Jennifer MacKay, SPEEA President Giving thanks A large part of my position deals with understanding the issues and concerns of members and finding ways to eliminate or at least minimize the negative impacts. The result is that a lot of these columns talk about outsourcing, job loss, and a lack of corporate social responsibility in the companies where represented employees work. In the year ahead, I will continue to work and write about the issues that are not working well for represented employees. If treatment of our Wichita members looks like it did this past year, I will write about it. It was unethical and unnecessary, and we will work hard to ensure it never happens again. Boeing’s existing Employee Incentive Plan (EIP) is a plan that rewards some employees but excludes its largest population. This is wrong. The WTPU’s new EIP and Boeing’s willingness to consider gain-sharing plans is a step in the right direction, but if the rewards fall short, then we will continue to push for an equitable solution. If the sale by Boeing of the Wichita plant’s commercial airplane division is handled in a manner that hurts the employees we represent, then I will write about it. Boeing has the ability and the capacity to do right by the people that have done their best. As a union, we will hold them accountable to do so. Does this mean that I think Boeing is all bad? Absolutely not. There are many great things that Boeing does for employees that are without question, very good. But as long as there are ways to improve the working environments for the employees SPEEA represents, then I will focus on those issues and write about them in this monthly column. Where credit is due That said, I hope I never lose sight of those things Boeing does well and give credit where credit is due. As part of his proclamation of Thanksgiving Day in 1864, Pres. Abraham Lincoln said, “…while He has opened to us new sources of wealth, and has crowned the labor of our working men in every department of industry with abundant rewards.” Though the ‘abundant’ part seems to be more and more limited to a small population of CEOs (and I do not believe that was the Lincoln’s hope for the nation’s future), there are indeed rewards that many of us have received during careers at Boeing for which I am thankful. I was able to raise my daughter with the wages and benefits the company provided. As a single parent for the first half of my career at Boeing, that is not a small thing. I was given opportunities for personal and professional growth and development. Many represented employees have benefited from one of the best higher education programs available. We were each given the opportunity to be a part of something truly great … our nation’s aerospace industry. When I write about areas where Boeing falls short, it doesn’t mean that I’ve forgotten the good. Rather, it means I know the company can, and has, done better. It’s up to us to remind them. As I spent Thanksgiving Day with my family, and look to the coming holiday season, I wanted to take a moment and say “thanks Boeing” for helping me and fellow members. I want to end this column with a request and hope that we can honor Lincoln’s Thanksgiving proclamation throughout the year. Specifically, I hope that the decisions being made now regarding the future of Boeing will, years from today, have workers still offering thanks for the rewards that came from jobs in the aerospace industry. Local 2001, AFL-CIO, CLC published monthly by: • In 1621, the Plymouth Pilgrims (joined by about ninety Wampanoag tribesmen) held their first Thanksgiving celebration on Dec. 13. The celebration lasted three days. • In 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Mass., proclaimed Thanksgiving June 29 (not November). • In 1789, Pres. George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving Nov. 26 and did so again in 1795. • In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving (before that, the president had to make an annual proclamation naming the day when Thanksgiving was going to be held; by naming it a national holiday, it became annual). • In 1939, 1940, and 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt changed Thanksgiving to the third Thursday in November (to lengthen the holiday shopping season). • In 1941, Congress put Thanksgiving back to the fourth Thursday in November. • In 1879, Canada proclaimed their Thanksgiving Day to be the second Monday in October. • The average American eats 18 pounds of turkey a year and consumes 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day. • Though L-tryptophan is a natural sedative found in turkey meat and many people believe it causes sleepiness after a Thanksgiving feast, the truth is that it doesn't act on the brain unless you take it on an empty stomach (no protein present). So it probably isn’t to blame for your after-meal tiredness. (contributed by Jennifer MacKay) Index Page Letters to the Editor ............................................. 2 A bicycle, a union and a happy ending .....................4 News Briefs .......................................................... 5 But my pension is guaranteed, right? ................... 6 Employees seek smooth transition if plant is sold .....7 Interested in running for SPEEA executive board .....8 SPEEA puts a face on outsourcing........................ 9 Q/A on gender pay lawsuit draws crowd ............ 10 Research shows engineer burnout .............. 11 Shop “union” this holiday season ............... 12 Periodicals Postage Paid at Seattle, Washington Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, IFPTE Local 2001, AFL-CIO, CLC 15205 52nd Ave S • Seattle, WA 98188 • (206) 433-0991 Reproduction rights reserved. No part of this publication may be Volume 46, Number 12; December 2004 ISSN 0194-8687 Subscription rate: $2.00 per year $2.00 of the annual membership dues is paid as a year’s subscription to the SPEEA SPOTLITE. reproduced without permission of the editor. When permission is granted, material must be used in context and credit given to the SPEEA SPOTLITE. Original articles and feedback are solicited. POSTMASTER: Address changes to The SPEEA SPOTLITE SpotLite 4 DECEMBER 2004 WTPU incentive plan will address sale A bicycle, a union and a happy ending ICHITA – A side letter addressing the need to have an incentive payout to employees affected by a plant sale was added to the draft Wichita Incentive Plan before it was sent to Boeing’s Chicago headquarters. M W The side letter is designed to ensure that employees whose jobs are sent to a new company if the Wichita plant is sold receive their share of an incentive payout. Originally expected to be submitted to the Board Boeing of Directors in October, the draft plan is now slated to be on the board’s agenda in December. The deadline for Boeing and SPEEA approval was adjusted to allow the delay. “We are on target to have it in place by January,” said Bob Brewer, SPEEA Midwest director. The plan is based on calendar year (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31) performance with payout to employees in February. The first payout of up to 5% will occur in February 2006. When the approval process is complete, a detailed overview will be provided to all affected employees and plan administrators. The Wichita Technical and Professional Unit incentive plan is the first plan of its kind for salaried employees represented by a union at Boeing. By Debbie Logsdon SPEEA MW Council Chair y son, James, moved into a group home at the end of April. A few months ago, he got a new roommate, David. David is around 24 years old but looks 16. He can’t talk but is high functioning. He is the sweetest young man you will ever meet. David came from a foster home and couldn’t bring his beloved bicycle with him. This upset him greatly since the bicycle was an important part of his life. When I heard about this, I thought I would go buy him a new bicycle. Then, I wondered if somebody might have a bike in their garage that is not being used and would donate it to David. I sent a note out to fellow union members. I received several offers. It was very emotional to actually see how kind our members are and how willing they are to jump in and make life better for someone less fortunate. The first bike that was delivered to David was a little small for him, but he was riding it and happy. A union member asked me if things had worked out, and I explained that the bike was actually a little small, but David was riding it. This union member went out and bought a new 26-inch shiny black boys’ bike and two other union members delivered it to David at the group home. The members said when An anonymous donor answered the call for a new bicycle that’s just the right size for David. they arrived, David was riding the small bike. The SPEEA members agreed the bike was too little. They got the new bike out and David looked at his caretaker, Jerome, as if to ask ‘is it for me?’ Jerome nodded and said: “Yes, it is yours, David.” With that, David jumped on the bike and took off. The new bicycle is a perfect fit. David is a very happy young man. David and his three roommates, including my son, James, usually go to church on Wednesday nights. The union members who delivered the bike thought Jerome might have a difficult time getting David off the bike and to church. By the way, the smaller bike will be provided to another client in a group home. Priority recall works for most, not all S WTPU contract signing S PEEA President Jennifer MacKay and Jeff Clark, Boeing Wichita Unions Relations director and chief negotiator, signed the Wichita Technical and Professional Unit (WTPU) contract in Wichita on Oct. 25. The contract included a one-time signing bonus of $1,800 as well as salary increases, and a commitment to an employee incentive plan – the first for salaried, union represented employees. ince Boeing began significant re-hiring this summer, the priority recall process spelled out in the SPEEA contract resulted in hundreds of laid-off members returning to work. However, some laid-off members were left behind by the company. Boeing to get them resolved, including grievances where available,” he said. “We disagree with the company over how the contract has been interpreted. If this is not resolved in favor of the employees, we will push to make this an issue in upcoming contract negotiations.” SPEEA monitors the new hire report every week to match it to the priority recall list, and follows up on all of the lay-offs that do not follow the protocol, said SPEEA Contract Administrator Rich Plunkett. How the recall process works “In working this list, we’ve caught some discrepancies and were successful in getting Boeing to address these by recalling the laidoff members; and, in some cases getting back pay,” Plunkett said. In a couple of cases, Boeing is attempting to stretch the interpretation of approximate reverse order, Plunkett said. In yet another case, Boeing managers hired a single contract labor employee without recalling all laid-off members in that particular skill. “In those cases, we are in discussions with Laid-off members are hired back in the order they were laid off in their specific skill (most recent layoffs are the first to go back). The laidoff members are solely responsible for keeping their priority recall status current. That involves sending a letter to Boeing twice a year to say they are still interested in returning to their previously held skill at Boeing. SPEEA sends reminder letters to laid-off members to assist them in this regard. SPEEA staff each week review the new hire list compared to the laid-off member list to make sure Boeing exhausts the priority recall list for each job code before hiring new employees or bringing in contract labor. 5 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 Jumping through Boeing ethics to work at Labinal News Briefs Irving all-member meeting Dec. 8th continued from the cover Boeing officials told the Wrights that Patty’s new job would result in a “conflict of interest.” Given the job Frank holds in customer service, the Wrights were told Patty’s new job at the Boeing supplier, Labinal, would put the couple in violation of Boeing’s new ethics rules. “Boeing is just one piece of my life, but it is the piece that has been consuming everything else for me and Frank, because they can’t figure out what they are doing,” Patty said. “I’m just one person trying to survive. I have to wonder how many other people are going through this and haven’t said anything.” Part of the irony is that the work Patty will do at Labinal was previously done by Boeing. That changed when, in April 2003, Boeing sold its Corinth, Texas, wire shop to Labinal. Boeing outsourced much of the remaining wiring work. Labinal’s plant in Everett works on the 767 and recently received a contract for the 7E7. Labinal also does work for the Boeing 717, Lear and the Airbus 320, 330 and 340. “This is an example of the unintended effects of outsourcing,” said Rich Plunkett, SPEEA contract administrator working with the Wrights. “It also points out how average workers are paying the price for the ethical missteps of Boeing executives.” Laid off for 18 months The past 18 months have been rough in the Wright household. After being laid off, Patty took advantage of a retraining program and went to work as a medical administrator. The salary was a fraction of what she earned at Boeing. Recently, her hours were cut to half-time, so when the job offer came from Labinal, she jumped. So excited, she called Frank at work. “I had been through the ethics training and went to work the next day with a pang of conscience,” Frank said. “I talked with my manager and filled out all the ethics paper work and figured it would all work out.” The word back from Boeing ethics was straightforward. Frank could not stay employed at Boeing or perform his current work statement if Patty worked for Labinal. “I had to either quit or transfer,” Frank said. The news devastated Patty. “I cried. I was not at Boeing and yet Boeing was stopping me from surviving,” she said. “I called Labinal and told them I couldn’t come to work. The manager at Labinal said he would call Boeing.” Two rounds of mitigation plans An initial mitigation plan offered little recourse. I RVING, TX – The Irving Negotiations Team is holding an all-member meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 8th. The meeting is scheduled as a lunchtime meeting at the plant. Bob Brewer, SPEEA Midwest director, along with the Irving team and Council Reps, will provide represented employees with an update on preparations for formal negotiations with BAE Systems. According to Frank, it essentially prohibited him from speaking to anyone in his group of 16 co-workers. Patty’s new manager offered to help by assuring Boeing she would not be involved in discussions regarding work placement from Boeing. The company let Patty’s starting date slide to give time for the couple, married 18 years, to find a solution. Frank and his manager drafted a second mitigation plan. This one offered additional assurance that Frank will not be included in any discussion concerning work placement or service bulletins to Labinal. Main Table talks with BAE are scheduled to start the third week of January. The contract expires Feb. 2nd, 2005. Dependent coverage needs update On Friday, Nov. 12, a representative from Boeing Ethics called Frank and said the second mitigation plan is acceptable. He immediately called Patty to give her the news. E mployees at The Boeing Company with dependent coverage under any Boeing supplemental life or Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) have until Jan. 1 to specify which dependents you want to cover or lose coverage for those dependents. To avoid losing coverage, enroll online or by telephone and provide the name, Social Security number and birth date of each individual you want to cover. Appreciative for the assistance provided by SPEEA contract administrators, Frank said it’s nice to know the system can work. “It works slowly, is sometimes painful, but it does work,” he said. Former Boeing employee Patty Wright started work at the Labinal Corporation in Everett the week of Nov. 15. She is working on wiring for the Boeing 767. You can do this on the “Your Benefits Resources” web site or by calling the Boeing Service Center at: 1-866-473-2016 Union Plus® Mortgage AIL dropped as discounter T he SPEEA Executive Board recently dropped the Altig Agency, an agency for American Income Life Insurance Company, from the SPEEA member discounter list. The action, which removes the agency from the online list of SPEEA discounters, comes after a number of members complained about Altig agents’ efforts to sell insurance to represented employees. Strengthen Your Union by adding the Union Plus Mortgage Benefit to your home one of two ways: Member comments about discounters are reviewed regularly by staff and the Executive Board Communications Committee. 1) Refinance your current home mortgage 2) Purchase a new home using the program benefit Health care story update R To find out more about the No Cost Strike, Unemployment & Disability Protection provided by: Union Privilege IFPTE and SPEEA: Call Area Coordinator Eddie Anderson 1-800-826-7888 ext.216 PAID ADVERTISEMENT Conflict of interest? epresented employees are reminded to check a hospital’s acceptance as an “approved provider” under their medical plan before scheduling elective procedures. As an example, the Regence Network sets patient responsibility for hospitals within the network at 5% while patient responsibility at hospitals outside the network is 40%. An upcoming Spotlite article will feature more details. 6 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 Transfer freezes SPEEA members’ pension benefits By Karen McLean SPEEA Staff B ob Murphy worked for McDonnell Douglas (MDC) in California, but the day Boeing officially merged with MDC, Murphy’s Flight Operations Engineering team began reporting directly to leadership in Puget Sound. “When it came time to consolidate the group in one location, I was asked and was assured this was merely a location change and that all my benefits would continue,” he said. “I have over 19 years in the Heritage plan and now the pension benefits in that plan are frozen at the level they were when I transferred.” The same thing has happened to about 100plus SPEEA members who transferred from MDC since 1997. Although it looks like they fell through the cracks, SPEEA continues to work with the members and Boeing representatives to raise the level of awareness and get this resolved. SPEEA recently hosted meetings with affected members and Boeing. Murphy’s experience is reflected in many of the letters that members wrote to SPEEA about losing the ongoing accrual in their heritage pension plans. “This doesn’t seem fair,” Murphy said. “It’s as if I’ve quit and then was rehired.” Three Boeing representatives met with a total of about 40 people at meetings in Everett and Renton. The company representatives explained that retirement plans had been combined more favorably for other groups at Boeing, but it was not their intent to leave anyone behind in terms of retirement benefits. The managers at the meeting said they expect the Boeing benefits committee to take another look at this issue. We understand it would be their responsibility to construct an argument for the committee to review. SPEEA has offered to help provide material to persuade the committee to come to a favorable decision. Gordon Sandell made the decision to move his family to Everett even though he was in his late 40s at the time. “Retirement benefits were a big consideration in preferring a Boeing solution to looking for a position outside.” Sandell, who now works on the 7E7 avionics team, estimates that if he retires at 65, he will lose about $1,000 per month if his continued on page 10 But my pension is guaranteed, right? By Stan Sorscher SPEEA Staff T he average age in our bargaining units is nearly 50 years. As those members approach retirement, they pay more attention to pension and retiree medical benefits, which some people refer to as “lifeboat” issues. PBGC Guaranteed plans PBGC Guaranteed plans Employers increasingly shift medical costs to workers, but on the pension side, we are also seeing employers unable or unwilling to continue funding promised benefits. Airlines, steel companies and others have used bankruptcy or the threat of bankruptcy to reduce pension benefits. Traditional “defined benefit” pensions are funded by employer contributions. That is, the employer promises a specific pension benefit and accepts the risk of investing pension trust funds to cover those future expenses. If the trust fund assets exceed obligations, then employers receive accounting advantages. If the trust fund assets fall below obligations, employers are required to pay into the trust funds. PBGC plans Government protection Over the last few decades, hundreds of pension plans failed, and were taken over by PBGC (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation) – a government agency created in 1974 to protect workers’ pensions. PBGC collects small payments from about 30,000 pension plans nationwide. When troubled plans are taken over, PBGC makes up some, but not all, of the shortfall. Protecting the protector But what happens when PBGC needs money? In the dot-com boom, pension trust funds prospered, and PBGC’s investments did well, also. (See Figure 1.) The bubble burst, and PBGC suffered with the rest of the investors, with historically bad results in 2002 and 2003. PBGC officials recently projected somewhat worse conditions for 2004. continued on page 7 7 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 Employees seek smooth transition if plant is sold W ICHITA – A group of labor representatives was recently informed by plant executives that “everything will be looked at” as efforts continue to cut costs at the Wichita plant. The declaration was made during a meeting with representatives of the Coalition of Labor Unions at Boeing (CLUB) and Jeff Turner, vice president and general manager of the Wichita plant. Boeing is currently negotiating to sell the commercial airplane division of the plant. the expense of workers, even as the economy starts to rebuild and Boeing profits increase, is a disappointing signal, Brewer said. The most recent quarterly net earnings for Boeing were $456 million, an increase of 78% from the same period last year. “There are many ways to realize additional cost savings,” Brewer said. “To jump to the conclusion that you must attack employee wages and benefits in order to make this happen is the wrong decision to make.” The meeting resulted after five labor unions representing employees at the Wichita plant requested a meeting with Turner in a joint letter of solidarity. Unions had hoped the meeting would be a first step toward a smooth transition to a new owner. Union representatives used the recent sale to BAE Systems as an example of a smooth transition. “The transition at Irving plant was very successful,” said Bob Brewer SPEEA Midwest director. “The sale to BAE Systems is a great model to follow.” Turner informed the CLUB that everything would be looked at in the event of a sale in Wichita. Material, overhead and labor costs will get close looks. It is expected that new Collective Bargaining Agreements will be negotiated if the sale of BCA in Wichita is announced. The continued emphasis on cutting costs at The unions emphasized their message of employees standing together and having earned respect from the company. They asked Turner to take the ideas and thoughts expressed at the meeting to the Boeing decision makers. “Employees made the Wichita plant productive and profitable for The Boeing Company,” Brewer said. “They will do the same for a new company.” Negotiation Team orientation seminar Y ou still have time to sign up for an orientation session if you are interested in running for the Puget Sound Negotiation Team. Orientation sessions will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the SPEEA Tukwila office, Tuesday, Dec. 14, and in Everett on Thursday, Dec. 16. Please RSVP – Tukwila (206) 433-0991 or Everett (425) 355-2883. In addition to attending one orientation session, you must submit a complete application to the SPEEA office at Tukwila or Everett by Friday, Dec. 17. You will find the application form at www.speea.org The Negotiation Team Nominating Committee will interview applicants in January and present a slate of nominees at the Feb. 10 Northwest Council meeting. The Bargaining Unit Council Representatives (Professional Unit and Technical Unit) will choose their respective negotiation team members. Team training and preparation for contract negotiations begins soon after the teams are chosen. Puget Sound contracts expire Dec. 1, 2005. In addition to Turner, copies of the letter initiating the meeting and the unions’ desire for a smooth transition, were mailed to federal and state political leaders, including Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. The unions, including SPEEA-IFPTE, are continuing their joint efforts to push for a smooth transition that protects the interests of employees, Wichita and Kansas. But my pension is guaranteed, right? continued from page 6 Boeing Pension Plans Boeing has two large pension funds, with about $10 billion each in assets. There are four billion-dollar-plus-size heritage funds from BNA and McDonnell Douglas, and a collection of smaller ones. Taken together, they represent over $30 billion in assets – one of the largest singleemployer trusts in the country. (See chart.) Protect employees’ interests SPEEA members always place high priority on retirement issues in our contract negotiations. I expect this to be a top issue in 2005. Federal law requires employers to keep pension plans healthy, but troubled companies with insufficient resources may choose to pay creditors and shareholders before honoring retirement promises. Our elected officials need to hear from us that we expect retirees to be treated at least as well as other stakeholders in a company’s business affairs. SPEEA retirees should make use of the ERS (Engineering Retirees Society), which has educated retirees and advocated for their interests under SPEEA-sponsorship for many years. For more information about ERS, go to www.speea.org and look under “how to join.” PAID ADVERTISEMENT 8 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 Interested in running for SPEEA Executive Board? Campaigning for SPEEA office Federal law requires labor organizations to comply with all reasonable requests of any candidate to distribute campaign literature, at the candidate’s expense, to members in good standing of the labor organization. The labor organization must refrain from discrimination in favor of or against any candidate with respect to distribution of campaign literature and the use of lists of members. T he four regional vice president positions on the SPEEA Executive Board are up for election in February 2005. If you’ve been a SPEEA member for at least the past two years and are interested in running, you may want to start planning now. Candidate petitions are due by Jan. 26. All members will vote on their regional vice president (three serving the Northwest and one in the Midwest). Ballots are mailed by Feb. 23. (See deadline schedule on this page for more details). Federal law also prohibits candidates for union office from utilizing union or company resources in the conduct of their election campaigns. This means it is inappropriate to campaign on company time or use employer (or union) resources such as paper, copy machines, fax machines, mail or email. Campaign literature should not be posted on union or company bulletin boards. More about the Executive Board: Seven members comprise the SPEEA Executive Board – president, secretary, treasurer and four regional vice presidents. Board members serve staggered two-year terms of office, beginning the fourth Wednesday of March. The prohibition against using employer (or union) resources to promote candidates for union office applies to ALL situations where resources are used to promote a candidate(s), regardless of whether the party using the employer (or union) resource is running for union office. The Board administers the affairs of the organization according to governing documents established by the membership and Council. Through meetings generally twice a month, the Board: NOTE: If a candidate wishes to conduct a mailing to union members, it must be conducted (at the candidate’s expense) by either SPEEA staff or a bonded mailing house. Mailing labels are never provided directly to a candidate. • Prepares the annual budget • Monitors expenses • Directs SPEEA’s activities through the executive director Board members also serve as the interim negotiation team for any interim negotiations that may occur between formal bargaining sessions. The regional vice presidents: • Represent their regions • Coordinate between the Executive Board and Regional Councils • Oversee legislative actions • Assist the Regional Council in interacting with the employer • Assist in coordination and communications between members, Executive Board and Negotiation Teams within their region. How to apply: If you are interested in filing for the SPEEA Executive Board election – and meet the minimum qualification (SPEEA membership continuously for at least two years) – pick up the petition at the SPEEA office (or call (206) 4330991 for one to be mailed to you). Nominations for the Executive Board will be made by petition, signed by 20 or more regular members of SPEEA, within the region. Petitions must state the Executive Board position sought, and must include the signature of the nominee to signify the nominee’s consent. SPEEA will begin collecting petitions at SPEEA Tukwila office no earlier than Wednesday, Jan. 12. The filing deadline is 5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 26. About the ballot package Candidates will be asked to submit a photo, a 25-word-or-less qualification statement, and a maximum 250-word platform statement for inclusion in the ballot package. Also included in the mailed-out ballot package will be a pamphlet containing five questions determined by the SPEEA Council, along with candidates’ answers (limited to 1,000 words total). Executive Board ballot packages will be mailed to eligible members by Feb. 23. Ballots will be counted March 9, and the new Board members will take office Wednesday, March 23. For more information Contact one of the current Board members, a former Board member or staff for more information on what is involved in being on the SPEEA Executive Board. PAID ADVERTISEMENT Schedule of Executive Board election events Petitions due at SPEEA Tukwila No earlier than Jan. 12, but no later than 5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 26 Platform statements and photos due at SPEEA headquarters By 5 p.m., Monday, Jan. 31 Ballots mailed to eligible members By Wednesday, Feb. 23 Deadline for ballots: Tellers count ballots Noon, Wednesday, March 9 New Executive Board members take office Wednesday, March 23 9 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 SPEEA puts a face to outsourcing By Karen McLean SPEEA Staff O LY M P I A – SPEEA members and staff testified before the Washington State Senate Commerce and Trade Committee in Olympia. SPEEA Legislative Director Kristin Farr and Stan Sorscher, SPEEA staff, gave a presentation on how Boeing’s attempts at offshore outsourc- Stan Sorscher and Kristin Farr testify on outsourcing. ing affects workers, the community and product quality. Cynthia Cole, SPEEA Executive Board regional vice president, and Steffon Gillyard, a SPEEA member active in the area of Commercial Aviation Services that was subject to outsourcing, were invited at the meeting to share their perspectives. • Look for direct commitments for domestic investments • Pass legislation prohibiting the offshoring of state government jobs Sorscher, who has also testified at the federal level on behalf of SPEEA, discussed what could happen if globalization continues to be purely profit driven, with a focus on short-term shareholder value. “ Market forces are powerful and efficient, but totally out of balance,” he said. That will lead to huge trade deficits that will lower the standard of living for the majority of Americans. “The Senate committee hadn’t heard from the Cynthia Cole and Steffon Gillyard testify Cole gave her perspective workers’ perspective,” at the Senate hearing. as a Boeing engineer. “It’s Farr said. “SPEEA is glad hard to integrate final to have the opportunity to be the first to appear assembly when you have questions and concerns in a formal setting to share our concerns about about the parts coming from Boeing partners current trends in offshore outsourcing.” overseas,” she said. At the work session Oct. 26 with Sen. Jim Gillyard, who testified at a previous outsourcHoneyford (R-15), chair, Sen. Karen Keiser ing hearing in Olympia, worked under the (D-33) and Sen. Rosa Franklin (D-29), Farr shadow of outsourcing until Boeing leadertalked about Boeing’s quest for “cheaper” and/or ship responded to employee input. “I’m not “smarter” labor and the hidden costs to outsourc- an economic theory, I’m not an educational ing technical design work to a country where theory. I’m a person who has lived it (outsourclanguage and experience are both barriers. ing) and it affects lives in a dramatic way.” He urged the Senate to “think out of the box” and For next steps, the senators were urged to: invite members of labor unions to the table to • Develop incentives for investing in Washington discuss possible solutions. state and its workers SPEEA members and staff also testified at • Question legislation that protects corporations the Washington State House work session in without accountability measures Everett, Nov. 17. Zervas-Berg named Ed Wells co-director Sophia Zervas-Berg is named Boeing co-director of the Ed Wells Initiative. She replaces previous Boeing co-director Pam Eakins. Her most recent assignment was the Skill/Functional manager for Commercial Airplanes Payloads supporting the Payloads and Structures organization. The Ed Wells Initiative is a jointly administered program by SPEEA and Boeing. As the company seeks to continuously refine and expand its technical capability, the Ed Wells Initiative helps enhance technical excellence through education, training, and career development. Labor history tidbits for the busy shopper By Ross Rieder President, Pacific Northwest Labor History Association F or our final month of 2004, we pass briefly over a number of labor history events of note. • Dec. 1, 1930, the Kellogg Cereal Company adopted a six-hour work day as a method of keeping people at work during the Great Depression. • Dec. 3, 1910, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) formed the Brotherhood of Timber Workers — many of whom became part of that pack of “such a lot of devils” in the 1917 strike of 50,000 lumberjacks. • Dec. 4, 1970, Cesar Chavez was jailed for refusing to end the grape boycott. • Dec. 5, 1955, the AFL and the CIO merged into the peak body of American labor. • Dec. 6, 1906, the IWW conducted the first U.S. sit-down strike at General Electric (GE) in Schenectady, NY. • Dec. 9, 1869, the Knights of Labor formed. • Dec. 14, 1890, Seattle National Association of Letter Carriers was chartered – probably the first public employee union in Washington state. • Dec. 15, 1906, Seattle Metal Trades Council was chartered. • Dec. 22, 1919, the U.S. deported 250 alien “radicals.” • Dec. 23, 1908, American Federation of Labor officers were found in contempt of court for urging a labor boycott. • Christmas Eve, 1934, Laborers 276 of Bellingham, Wash., was chartered. • Dec. 28, 1879, Jimmy Duncan, leader of the Seattle Central Labor Council in the teens and twenties of the 20th century, was born. • Dec. 29, 1925, Electrical Workers Local 77, public and private utility workers, was chartered. And that’s a few items of our labor history you probably won’t hear about on the History Channel. 10 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 Q/A on gender pay Wichita adds staff to lawsuit draws support members ICHITA – Debbie Shepard recently “I’ve learned a lot in the past year about how crowd moved into the newly added contract SPEEA works for our members,” Shepard said. T UKWILA – Attorney Leslie Hagin gave a crash course in the class-action lawsuit that affects about 28,000 women who worked at The Boeing Company’s Puget Sound facilities in the past several years. The Nor thwest Women’s Advocacy Committee (WAC) invited Hagin who spoke to about 50 people at the Tukwila office Nov. 15. Hagin gave an overview and answered general questions about the lawsuit, Leslie Hagin Beck v. Boeing, involving pay and overtime disparity for women. The lawsuit filed in 2000 by McNaul, Ebel, Nawrot & Helgren of Seattle ended in a negotiated settlement with Boeing prior to going to trial in May of this year. The period for appeal recently ended, and now the settlement can move forward with a total payout ranging from $41 to $72 million, Hagin said. Eligibility applies to SPEEA-represented techs, hourly (IAM) and non-union (nonexecutive) salaried Boeing women at any time since February 1997 at Puget Sound locations. That includes women who changed jobs to non-eligible positions after that time, or left the company for any reason (lay off, retire or quit, for example). Although the dollar amount will vary depending on several factors, Hagin said she expects eligible women who file a claim to receive a minimum of $500. The forms will be mailed to those eligible in mid-December to early January. Hagin said the form includes a deadline giving women some specific period of time to reply (which will be noted on the claim form that class members receive). Late responses will not be eligible. Hagin suggests mailing the claim form in as soon as possible to the claims processor via certified mail. The settlement also calls for “systemic” changes at Boeing in current and future salary planning to stop perpetuating the gender gap in pay, Hagin said. “We think that will have one of the biggest impacts,” she said. NW WAC will host a meeting with Hagin at the Everett SPEEA office, Dec. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Seating is limited, please RSVP: (425) 355-2883. For more information on Beck v. Boeing, go to: www.mcnaul.com W administrator position in the Wichita office and Sandy Early joins the Wichita staff as office administrator as of Dec. 6. “That builds a foundation for my ability to help serve members as a contract administrator.” “With the pending sale in Wichita and upcoming negotiations for the Wichita Engineering Unit (WEU) and Irving, Texas, members, SPEEA elected leaders chose to enhance the coverage we provide to our members,” said Bob Brewer, SPEEA Midwest director. Shepard joined the Midwest office in October 2003. Prior to SPEEA, she worked at The Boeing Company’s Wichita plant as a maintenance analyst III. Laid off in January 2002, she returned to Wichita State University to finish her bachelor’s of science degree in business administration with a minor in management. Debbie Shepard Early is moving from SPEEA headquarters in Seattle to Wichita. She brings 14 years experience in customer service and office administration – including serving as legislative secretary in Washington state for the King County Hearing Examiner’s office. Her background includes work as a dispatcher for 911 calls and news director for a radio station. Early took meeting minutes for both the SPEEA and Northwest Council meetings as well as joint SPEEA-Boeing meetings, supported the Governing Documents committee, processed membership applications, maintained the SPEEA discounter list and other administrative support. Shepard has more than 20 years business experience, including banking Early is noted for her strong writSandy Early ing skills, attention to detail and her and municipal government. Shepard is noted for her strong management skills, focus on positive focus on the members. customer service and organizational abilities. Early has personal ties to the Midwest, which Shepard managed the front office in Wichita is one reason why the opening appealed to which included responding to members’ calls and her, but she also wanted to grow her career e-mails, scheduling meetings, processing the mail with SPEEA. “This opening gives me a chance and bills, and coordinating events and activities to broaden my professional skills and get to in support of the committees and members. know our Midwest members,” Early said. “I’m glad I can make this move.” Negotiations 2005 Dates are expiration of current contracts. Wichita sale – ? Irving – Feb. 3 Puget Sound Professional – Dec. 1 Puget Sound Technical – Dec. 1 Wichita Engineering – Dec. 5 Transfer freezes SPEEA members’ pension benefits continued from page 6 pension benefits remain frozen. “That is a significant loss and a shabby way to be treated for the sacrifices we made in coming here,” Sandell said in his letter to SPEEA. Many members expressed frustration that they thought the pension benefits would seamlessly transfer instead of getting frozen. “We made sacrifices . . . in transferring to Seattle and were assured by management that it is the same company and NOTHING would change,” said a member in Renton. “We acted in good faith and did not get these questions specifically answered at this time,” he said. Frank Celli went through a lot of career upheaval, but says he’s happy overall with his job in Everett. He is, however, still frustrated by the benefits issue, which unfairly singles out a certain group. “I do believe our situation has fallen through the cracks,” he said. “I am a firm believer that all employees should be treated equally and fairly, and it is quite apparent this is not the case here.” 11 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 Research shows engineer burnout By Karen McLean SPEEA Staff T UKWILA – What Jill Jacobson discovered in her research about Boeing engineers may come as no surprise to about 50% of that population. Her study concludes that aspects of burnout may affect about half of the engineering group. Although she doesn’t diagnose the causes, she does offer several ways to deal with burnout – ranging from taking better care of yourself to improving communications at work and possibly changing jobs. Jacobson, who recently completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Seattle Pacific University, presented her findings to SPEEA this fall. Jacobson also has a master’s in business administration. She sent a survey via an anonymous mailing list of about 1,000 SPEEA-represented engineers. The 315 responses generated a sample size of healthy statistical power. “Because of the response rate, I can say – yes – a lot of Boeing engineers are experiencing burn out,” she said. Cost of burnout She believes both the company and individuals should care about burnout. For the company, burnout not only means less-effective employees, it can lead to turnover and difficulty in recruiting new people to the work. And burnout undermines profit. Burnout also leads to a loss of creativity, she said. “How do you come up with ideas to make things cheaper and better if your creativity is dampened?” People who suffer from burnout face not just mental, but physical problems such as weight gain. Other physical symptoms include problems with eyesight, tense muscles, ringing ears, headaches, stiff joints, skin rashes and an exhaustion that doesn’t go away after a good night’s sleep. Why Boeing engineers She targeted engineers based on her experience working for 23 years at Boeing, where she worked in the finance/procurement area and estimating. She also worked as a process analyst supporting organizational consulting and coaching for the 767 engineering group before retiring. At Boeing, she relied on engineers’ input in making pricing decisions. “I would watch these engineers work on the fly and be able to account for so many details,” she said. Engineers liked their work and they worked hard demonstrating a level of passion not seen in others areas, she said. That planted a seed for her research. Despite extensive data research, she didn’t find any other study targeting burnout exclusively to engineering. “It’s time that they are heard,” she said. Her goal was to identify whether burnout was in fact prevalent among Boeing engineers based on a four-part questionnaire measuring exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy. Results of burnout survey Her results showed an elevated level of exhaustion, a moderate level of cynicism and a good level of professional efficacy (what Jacobson calls pride of ownership in your work). The combination of results, particularly exhaustion, led her to conclude a large group of Boeing engineers are experiencing burnout. Her ultimate goal with this research is to help Boeing realize the valuable investment they have in the engineering and technical workforce and take steps to reduce burnout. “Avoiding burnout is not only a social obligation; it is vital to the well being and growth of the company.” While nothing completely buffers against the exhaustion component of burnout other than not over working, Jacobson does say what’s most effective in helping ward off burnout in general. “It’s not necessarily whether you’re married or your degree of spirituality; it’s about having friends,” she said. The social support of friends is statistically significant in preventing burnout. After completing this research, Jacobson said she would like to pursue more research into this subject because of the connection between the mind and health. She believes that awareness of burnout is a first step toward her number one rule in life – to take care of yourself. Jacobson can be reached at (206) 778-3458. Take care of yourself • Limit overtime (negotiate with your boss and/or co-worker to split the OT) • Make your home life less hectic • Take a relaxing vacation • Take your lunch away from your desk • Take morning and afternoon breaks away from your desk • Exercise, even if it’s just a daily walk outdoors • Spend at least one hour a week in a social group setting Members recall 757 memories R ENTON – When the first 757 took its first flight in February, 1982, Ron Wodtli witnessed the event. As Boeing bid farewell to its last 757 on Oct. 28 in a special ceremony, Wodtli, a SPEEA Council Rep, joined the crowd. Wodtli recalled with nostalgia that first take off. “It was really neat to see it screaming down the runway,” he said. “When those front wheels went up, everyone burst into applause.” The final ceremony featured the 1,050th 757 ready for delivery to Shanghai Airlines. The ceremony included guest speaker such as Lew Wallick, test pilot for the 757, who called it one of the best planes Boeing built. About 5,000 came to the ceremony which also featured Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Alan Mulally, Carolyn Corvi, vice president for 737/757, and Renton Mayor Kathy Keolker-Wheeler who presented a proclamation declaring Oct. 28, 2004 as 757 day. Because of the crowd size, a large screen projected the speakers in the darkened factory floor – creating a mood like a stadiumsized rock-concert. “I was in the 757 Wire Installations and Wire Design Groups at the beginning of the program. This program brought changes in the kind of databases that we were able to use for our ‘drawings.’ We were the first program to directly input data to the WIRS (Wiring Information and Release System). This was a very large cultural change in engineering. Keyboarding was not a skill that many engineering employees had at that time. Sharon Moats 757 Wire design focal • Consider counseling to help you clarify your goals I was one of three lead engineers for the design of 757 electrical wiring, and was fortunate to be among the first designers on the program. The people were wonderful. They were enthusiastic and intent on incorporating lessons learned from other projects they had worked on. Our leadership was also top notch – with legendary engineers like Jim Copenhaver, Walt Gillette, Phil Condit among them. (Source: Jill Jacobson, Ph.D., M.B.A. clinical and organizational psychology) Ed Walker retired Boeing 1998 • Volunteer for training that’s different from what you’re doing now • Learn how to ask for what you want/need in your career – whether it’s training or appreciation or a change or specific support 12 SpotLite DECEMBER 2004 SPEEA Holiday Outreach Fund to help laid-off families I t’s that time of year again, when SPEEA elves are busy shopping to make the holidays a little brighter for laid-off SPEEA members’ families. This holiday, more than 50 children will receive something under their tree from SPEEA. Their parents responded to a letter sent by SPEEA requesting their kids’ wish lists. SPEEA members and staff will deliver the presents in mid-December. Thanks to those who have already contributed to this special fund. If you’d like to make a donation, please send a check made payable to SPEEA Holiday Outreach Fund and send it to: SPEEA, c/o Robin, 15205 52nd Ave. S, Seattle, 98188. Shop “union” this holiday season H elp build a stronger economy this holiday season by looking for the union label during your holiday shopping. ping season of the year and, therefore, offer the best opportunity to wield our buying power in support of good jobs. With manufacturing and now many white collar jobs going overseas or being outsourced to non-union workers, we all need to do our part to support products that carry the union-made label. Buying union made products this holiday season recognizes and respects the represented employees, co-workers, relatives, neighbors, friends and the buying public who share our communities. Please help throughout the Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa holidays. U.S. Department of Commerce figures show consumer spending accounts for 68% of the $10 trillion U.S. Gross Domestic Product, giving shoppers enormous power over the economy and labor market. The winter holidays are the biggest shop- Santa at SPEEA! A re you planning to visit Santa this year? Skip the crowds at the mall and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow union members with Santa at SPEEA offices in Tukwila and Everett on Saturday, Dec. 11, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. You can sign up for a time slot, although walkins are also welcome. You will get a digital photo and have the option of bringing your own camera. To sign up, contact the SPEEA Tukwila office at (206) 433-0991 or SPEEA Everett at (425) 355-2883. Local 2001, AFL-CIO, CLC Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, IFPTE Local 2001, AFL-CIO, CLC 15205 52nd Ave S • Seattle, WA 98188 Volume 46, Number 12 (ISSN 0194-8687) December 2004 MOVING? Please correct your address _______________________________________________ New Address _______________________________________________ City State POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE SPEEA SPOTLITE • 15205 52nd Ave S • Seattle, WA 98188 Zip Code Periodicals Postage Paid at Seattle, Washington