Boeing Strike? Union Tells Technical Workers it's Possible as Ballots Go Out

Leaders of the union that represents 7,500 Boeing technical workers say members must decide in a second contract vote if they are willing to strike in order to achieve a better offer from the company, the Herald in Everett reports.

The technical workers earlier rejected the same offer accepted by Boeing engineers, and ballots were mailed  out Thursday for a second vote. Those ballots will be counted March 18.

Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) leaders say a second rejection would "almost certainly lead to a strike.”

"The membership must decide if it is willing to engage in a potentially lengthy strike in an effort to achieve a better contract offer,” union leaders wrote in sending out the ballots.

Boeing refused to improve its earlier offer in negotiations in late February, with the sticking point being a company plan to replace pensions for new hires with a 401(k) plan. The company proposal offers 5 percent average pay increases in each of the contract’s four years and retains the current medical plan.

For the Herald story, go here:
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130307/BLOG01/130309858/-1/NEWS01#SPEEA-cant-extract-more-from-Boeing-without-a-strike.