WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Engineers at Boeing Co.'s Integrated Defense System plant in Wichita will vote Nov. 30 on a new four-year contract offer, the union said Tuesday.þþThe Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace has recommended members reject the proposed contract offer, saying it would drive wages below market averages and give 800 Wichita engineers represented by the unit lower wages than those provided to their colleagues near Seattle.þþBoeing has called the contract a region-leading contract that offers significant wage increases, a lump-sum bonus and an incentive pay program.þþMembers would have until 5 p.m. on Dec. 5 to turn in their ballots. Rejection would return negotiators to the bargaining table.þþLast week, Boeing and SPEEA reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year labor contract for workers in Washington's Puget Sound region and in three other states. That boosted hopes that a deal was forthcoming in the separate talks covering about 800 SPEEA members in Wichita, where negotiations had begun Nov. 8.þþBut union officials in Wichita said the final offer they received Friday was the first stage of a ''divide and conquer'' strategy that gives Wichita engineers lower wage pools than those in the Puget Sound area.þþBoeing said its offer increases engineering salaries from $80,000 to more than $95,000 over the life of the four-year contract, enhances pension benefits and includes no increases in employee cost shares of health benefits. It also offers workers a one-time bonus averaging $3,600 payable next month if the contract is approved,þþThe current contract expires Dec. 5.þþ
Source: NY Times
