SPEEA: ‘We believe Boeing is making a mistake’

SPEEA decries Boeing decision to move 787 production from Everett to S.C.

The following was released this morning by SPEEA:

SEATTLE (Oct. 1, 2020) — The Boeing Company’s decision to consolidate 787 production in North Charleston and abandon its Dreamliner line in Everett is disappointing and frustrating to the thousands of engineers, technical workers and pilots represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001.

Union leaders have asked Boeing for specifics about the move and which employees will be impacted. As many engineers and technical workers’ jobs span multiple programs, and Boeing having issues with its own “Worklife” employee system, it’s difficult to immediately know which employee groups are affected.

“This is disappointing to our members and all Boeing employees in the Puget Sound region,” said SPEEA President Ryan Rule.

Since launching the 787 program in 2003, through its first flight in 2009 and delivery to launch customer ANA in 2011, the professional aerospace employees represented by SPEEA have been integral to the program.

“We believe Boeing is making a mistake,” said SPEEA Executive Director Ray Goforth. “SPEEA’s immediate focus is supporting the members who will be laid-off. Long term we will partner with community stakeholders to attract new aerospace jobs to the state by marketing the aerospace talent pool Boeing is walking away from.”

The news leaked out the night before FAA Administrator Steve Dickson flew the 737MAX on a test flight as part of the process to recertify the airplane and return it to service. Boeing recently laid off its last seven, highly skilled, Flight Training Pilots (FTA) and announced training for the pilots of airline customers is being outsourced to Cambridge Communications, Ltd., a pilot contract house based in the Isle of Man.

A local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), SPEEA represents more than 17,600 aerospace engineers, technical workers, professionals and pilots at Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems and Triumph Composite Systems in Washington, Kansas, Oregon, Utah, and California.