Boeing Extends Best and Final Offer to SPEEA-WEU Represented Employees

WICHITA, Kan. --- The Boeing Company today delivered its best and final offer (BAFO) to 700 Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace-Wichita Engineering Unit (SPEEA-WEU) engineers at the company's Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) facility in Wichita.>> The proposed three-year contract provides salary adjustments each year and maintains comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance at affordable costs to employees.>> Highlights of the BAFO include:> --Three-year contract duration> --The same annual salary adjustment as Boeing-IDS Wichita's non-SPEEA salaried employees, or 3 percent, whichever is greater> --Additional 5 percent promotion fund each year> --Retirement benefits continue to grow with salary increases: Basic pension benefit increases April 1, 2009, to $81 per month for each year of service> --Two comprehensive health care plans requiring no employee monthly contribution> --Improved preventive care and prescription drug coverage> --Continued participation in the Employee Incentive Plan that has already delivered 27 days of additional pay during the 2005-2008 agreement> --Enhanced overtime, vacation and sick leave benefits> --Voluntary layoff with benefits.>> "Our offer rewards employees for their contributions and will also allow us to remain competitive in the aircraft modification business," said Scott Strode, vice president of Boeing-IDS Wichita. "Even during a global economic crisis, and while aerospace companies and Wichita businesses are facing significant challenges, we still want to reward our employees with a very competitive compensation and benefits package -- and we believe we have done that here. This offer will keep the pay and benefits package for SPEEA-represented employees competitive within the Wichita market for the next three years.