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Boeing and negotiators representing 17,000 engineers, scientists and technical workers are kicking off contract talks early, using a novel bargaining method for the first time in a quarter century aimed at avoiding an ugly showdown that could derail the company’s rebound.
In a break with recent tradition, SPEEA intends to use so-called “interest-based” bargaining. This means negotiators for the white-collar union won’t present their Boeing counterparts with either a contract proposal or a long list of demands when they meet on July 1 to formally start the first full-fledged contract talks in 14 years.
The two sides plan to meet regularly until Boeing presents its offers to two SPEEA bargaining units ahead of contracts that expire on Oct. 6, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001 said in a statement Tuesday.
The approach is a contrast to the 40% wage bump that was publicly set as a goal by IAM District 751, which represents 33,000 Boeing factory workers, before it entered talks that ultimately ended in a costly work stoppage two years ago.
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