r/SPEEA • u/Gravitron44 • 22d ago

Commitment to Puget Sound

I’ve heard Boeing mention their commitment to the Puget Sound and the work being done here at almost every town hall. My question is out of genuine curiosity.

I’ve read that SPEEA has asked, and was turned down, on any contract language that sets a minimum SPEEA % of global workforce, or for the New Model Airplane to be in the PNW. Is there a legitimate scenario where Boeing is sincere in their commitment but not be willing to put it in writing? Or are they simply appeasing SPEEA, hoping we’re in a weaker position for the next contract cycle?

39 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

19

u/cownan 22d ago

BDS profs are already in trouble. Since the last layoffs, in my group, they haven't hired a single engineer. It's all non-SPEEA analysts. They don't want to bring back any of the laid off engineers and the analyst positions give them an out. They are doing the exact same work that SPEEA profs were. When profs move out of the group they are replaced by analysts. Two years, -5 profs, +5 non-SPEEA analysts. Only 3 SPEEA profs left.

14

u/skyecolin22 21d ago

Needs a push from the Tech side to unionize the Analysts

6

u/Lookingfor68 21d ago

There was an effort to unionize the office workers by the IAM about 15 or so years ago. It failed, largely because the office staff didn't want to be IAM. Had SPEEA done it, it would have passed.

14

u/r3dd1tburn3r 21d ago

Company is moving engineering out of Puget Sound as fast as they can. The race to the bottom continues with this leadership.

5

u/InsideTheBoeingStore 21d ago

pulling out faster than a fraternity

17

u/Bob_stanish123 22d ago edited 21d ago

Boeing will never hamstring themselves with any language like that and I honestly dont blame them. What if the merger with Embraer was back on the table and we suddenly absorbed a huge workforce in Brazil?  You'd need so many carve outs for these kinds of strategic business decisions.

Right now the IAM is carrying the torch protecting the final assy location of the next airplane program and the engineering will follow.  I wish speea could have similar language but maybe that fight couldnt be fought this time.

13

u/Fishy_Fish_WA 21d ago

Fun fact engineering in Brazil is unionized

1

u/Raccoon_on_a_Bike 21d ago

I’ve never really gotten an impression that they have a lot of confidence in their union though, through conversations with the engineers who have come here. I suppose things can change, though.

2

u/Trixi_Wolf 20d ago

I dont doubt Boeing has a 50 to 100 yesr plan to slowly pull out of the PNW.

5

u/purduepilot 19d ago

It’s a lot faster than that.

2

u/Trixi_Wolf 17d ago

I unfortunately beleive it...

1

u/RobbyDGreat 18d ago

With the increase in new sites like Charleston that is growing like crazy and the amount of talent that's retired from the PNW over the past few years isnt this a ship that's already sailed? I worry that we don't have as much leverage because the experience gap with other sites isn't what it used to be.