Monthly Publication

March 2021March 2021

ILCALabor Media

AwardWinnerrW

Ballots counted March 10

VVOOTTEE

Boeing EIP pays out – P3 Run for Council Rep – P4 Nominate a volunteer – P6

Make sure your vote counts• Only mark the candidate boxes • Fill out the back of the mailing

envelope • Allow enough time for delivery

by noon, March 10

Executive Board election for regional vice presidents

Cast your vote for regional vice presidents to serve on SPEEA’s top governing body.Nine members are running for three

seats in the Northwest and two members are running for one seat in the Midwest.

Northwest candidates - three positions

• Dan Nowlin• John Dimas• Douglas Brazeal• Rogelio Garcia• Daniel Peters• Mike Arrington• William Mark

Worden• Deena Hougham• Stanley Huang

Midwest candidates - one position

• Chris Streckfus• Frank Wiesner

Names shown in ballot order as determined by the SPEEA Tellers in a random drawing.Ballot packages, including candidate infor-

mation, were mailed to members’ homes. If you are on travel assignment and/or have not received your ballot, email terryh@speea.org.

Mail delivery onlyBallots are due at SPEEA’s Post Office Box by noon, Wednesday, March 10. Because all three SPEEA offices are temporar-

ily closed due to COVID, you cannot drop off your ballot. Allow enough time to ensure mail delivery before the deadline. Ba l lots arriving after noon, March 10, will not be counted.Election results will be

posted at www.speea.org when finalized by the SPEEA Tellers Committee. The new VP terms start March 24.

About the Executive BoardThe seven-member board includes the president, treasurer, secretary and four regional vice presidents (three in the Northwest and one in the Midwest). The Board officers are elected every even year.The Board directs SPEEA’s activities through the executive director, prepares the annual budget and monitors expenses.

SPEEA on state aerospace council

The Washington state g ove r nor ’s o f f i c e appointed SPEE A

Legislative Director Brandon Anderson to the Aerospace Workforce Council.The Council is newly created to establish a framework for reporting on current aerospace apprenticeship programs. The

Council will also make recommendations to expand on the programs.

“This gives us the ability to advocate for new and innovative ways to meet the workforce demands of our ever-changing industry,” said Anderson. “It also puts SPEEA in the room with key legislators, agency heads and policy experts – which is key to our success in other strategic advocacy efforts.” SPEEA is studying the feasibility of apprentice-ships for aerospace technical and professional jobs as part of the five-year $5 million aerospace grant from the state. The study will look at industry needs as well as potential partners and programs. 

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2 SPEEA SPOTLITEMARCH 2021

PresidentRyan Rule

Executive DirectorRay Goforth

Executive BoardMichelle Cooper TreasurerShaunna Winton SecretaryMike Shea NW Regional VP Daniel Peters NW Regional VP Dan Nowlin NW Regional VP Keith Covert MW Regional VP

SPEEA Council Officers

Tony Hickerson ChairEmily Brent-Fulps TreasurerBen Blankley Secretary

Midwest Regional Council Officers

R Matthew Joyce ChairChris Streckfus TreasurerEmily Forest Secretary

Northwest Regional Council Officers

Jeffrey Forbes ChairMike Arrington TreasurerDoug Brazeal Secretary

SPEEA Publications

Bill Dugovich Communications DirectorLori Dupuis Graphic Designer/Web DeveloperKaren McLean Publications EditorAmber Musselman Communications Support

speea@speea.org • www.speea.org

published monthly by:Society of Professional Engineering Employees

in Aerospace, IFPTE Local 2001, AFL-CIO, CLC

15205 52nd Ave. S • Seattle, WA 98188 • 206-433-0991

Reproduction rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced without permission. When permission is granted, material

must be used in context and credit given to the SPEEA SPOTLITE.

Original articles and feedback are solicited.

Subscription rate: $2.00 per year. $2.00 of the annual membership dues is paid as a

year’s subscription to the SPEEA SPOTLITE.

POSTMASTER: Address changes to: The SPEEA SPOTLITE, 15205 52nd Ave. S, Seattle WA 98188.

Periodicals Postage Paid at Seattle, Washington

Volume 65, Number 3, March 2021ISSN 0194-8687

SEATTLE HALL

15205 52nd Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98188

Mon-Thu, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Fri, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 206-433-0991 • 1-800-325-0811

EVERETT HALL

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Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 425-355-2883 • 1-800-325-0811

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Mon-Thu, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Fri, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 316-682-0262 • 1-800-325-0811

King/Snohomish high school students

Volunteer to judge at virtual science/engineering fair

Help judge high school students’ projects in areas such as engineering mechanics, artif icia l intel l igence, robotics,

mathematics and more.The Central Sound Science and Engineering Fair (CSSEF) needs about 30 more judges to achieve a 1:2 ratio between students and judges for the virtual fair Saturday, March 13.“With high schools having limited classroom activity and no labs, many students have taken advantage of the extra time to work on science research and engineering projects,” said Gary Foss, former SPEEA member. Foss is a volunteer leader for state and regional science fairs.

“We have almost 200 students signed up for the fair, and we need at least 100 judges total to interview the students,” he said.

• About the fair – https://centralsound-fair.org

• Be a judge – https://centralsound.stem-wizard.com/public_site/judge_register

Brandon Anderson

Craig Buckham, SPEEA president during the successful 40-day strike, dies

Craig Buckham, who as SPEEA president from 1999 to 2004, helped guide members from an independent labor

union to our affiliation with the IFPTE, as well as leading the union through its historic 40-day strike at The Boeing Company in 2000, died Feb. 13. “Craig was a levelheaded leader in a time of conflict and labor unrest,” said IFPTE President Paul Shearon, who was SPEEA organizer in the years surrounding the strike. “Craig’s thoughts were always with the wellbeing of members. He will be missed.”

Buckham, 64, joined SPEEA on Jan. 20, 1980, his first day of a 38-year career at The Boeing Company. In addition to his years as presi-dent, Buckham was a long-serving Area Rep in Renton and Everett.

Past SPEEA President Joel Funfar remembers Buckham as a hardworking leader during and after the historic 40-day strike.

“When I was elected president, Craig was one

of the first to reach out with congratulations and an offer to be a mentor,” Funfar said. “The work he did for SPEEA will always be appreciated.”

A highly rated employ-ee for his entire career, Buckham retired in November 2018. In 2019, he was award-ed a SPEEA Lifetime Achievement award, our union’s highest honor for long-standing members.

“Craig was very well respected for his techni-cal acumen and his innovation,” said retired Boeing engineering executive Todd Zarfos. “I remember Craig always seeking solutions that would provide mutual benefit to Boeing and its employees. He was a kind, thoughtful friend and employee, and I know he will be missed by all who knew him.”

Craig Buckham

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3 SPEEA SPOTLITEMARCH 2021

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION O F P R O F E S S I O N A L A N D TECHNICAL ENGINEERS

Spirit return-to-worksite date on hold

WICHITA – Spirit AeroSystems delayed its plans to bring remote employees back to the workplace.

No date has been set. Instead, the company notified employees working offsite to expect an email about four weeks prior to their targeted return date in most cases. The email notification to return to the worksite will include information links from Spirit to prepare for safety practices and protocols at the site. SPEEA staff continue to address members’ questions and monitor the workplace for those who are working at the facilities, including the defense program and facilities.

Boeing Employee Incentive Plan (EIP) pays out for 2020By Matt KempfSPEEA Senior Director of Compensation and Retirement CFP®, CEBS

Boeing’s Employee Incentive Plan (EIP) announce-

ment Jan. 28 means incentive bonuses will be paid to Boeing employees represent-ed by SPEEA in the Professional, Technical and Pilot/Instructors units. 

Employees receive the EIP bonus in their paycheck March 4.

The EIP is based on the same Combined Performance Score that drives the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) for executives, the Management Incentive Plan (MIP) for non-ex-ecutive managers and the Performance-Based Incentive (PBI) for non-represented employees.

The results for the 2020 performance period are 50% based on the Total Company Performance Score and 50% based on the Business Unit Performance Scores. 

New SPEEA contracts increase payout

The 2020  SPEEA  contract negotiations increased the EIP target from 10 days to 5% of eligible pay for 2020.  

The resulting score for each business unit is multiplied times the target of 5% and applied to eligible 2020 pay.

Eligible pay includes regular salary, overtime, holiday, sick leave, vacation, the lump sum award and some less-common forms of pay.

Eligible pay specifically excludes disability ben-efits and the prior year’s EIP payment.

Those in a SPEEA bargaining unit who retired and/or were laid off during 2020 are eligible for a prorated bonus based on their specific 2020 eligible earnings. However, eligible pay excludes layoff benefits and any sick leave and/or vacation cashed out upon termination. 

36% 36% 36% 36%

22%

50%

13% 28%

BCA BDS BGS ENT

2020 COMBINED PERFORMANCE SCORES

Total Company Performance Score Business Unit Performance Score

58%

86%

49%

64%

Performance Year

Paid Year

TargetBCA BDS BGS Corp/ENT BCA BDS BGS Corp/ENT

2020 2021 5% 58.0% 86.0% 49.0% 64.0% 2.9% 4.3% 2.5% 3.2%2019 2020 10 Days2018 2019 10 Days2017 2018 10 Days2016 2017 10 Days 95.0% 99.0% 9.5 Days 9.9 Days2015 2016 10 Days 82.5% 97.5% 8.25 Days 9.75 Days2014 2015 10 Days 122.5% 127.5% 12.25 Days 12.75 Days2013 2014 10 Days 160.0% 162.5% 16 Days 16.25 Days2012 2013 10 Days 147.5% 160.0% 14.75 Days 16 Days2011 2012 10 Days 150.0% 150.0% 15 Days 15 Days2010 2011 10 Days 142.5% 120.0% 14.25 Days 12 Days2009 2010 10 Days2008 2009 10 Days2007 2008 10 Days2006 2007 10 Days2005 2006 10 Days

0.0%166.0%187.0%

97.0%90.0%

16 Days16 Days14 Days

125.0%170.0%160.0%160.0%140.0%

70.0%60.0%

150.0%120.0%140.0%

Historical Results

12 Days14 Days

0 days16.6 Days18.7 Days

7 Days6 Days

15 Days

9.7 Days9 Days

12.5 Days17 Days

From 2005 through the 2019 performance year, the SPEEA EIP target has been 10 days of pay with results equal-ing between 0% to 200% of target. Most years have 52 pay weeks, with each having five days equaling 260 days. Accordingly, the 10-day target typically equaled 3.84% of eligible pay (10 days divided by 260 days).

Stay safe!

Get informed on COVID-19 vaccine

SPEEA, IFPTE Local 2001 urges everyone to get informed and get vaccinated. Check out the fact sheet produced by the Washington

State Labor Council (WSLC), AFL-CIO and vaccination website links at www.speea.org for the states with SPEEA members.

For more information and resources, including links to information on workers’ rights to a safe workplace, go to www.ifpte.org.

Run for Council Rep to help co-workers and learn more about SPEEA ........................................P42019-2021 Council Attendance....................................P5Member outreach to Congress makes a diff erence ............................................................P5Look for your retention rating ......................................P6Triumph to close Spokane facility ...............................P6Change to pharmacy manager triggers questions .............................................................P6Nominate a member for SPEEA volunteer award .................................................................P6Ed Wells Partnership: Keeping an open line of communication with management ..............P7Tricare off ers extra medical coverage for veterans ..........................................................................P8John Sweeny, former AFL-CIO president, passes ...............................................................P8

4 SPEEA SPOTLITEMARCH 2021

SPEEA is seeking members interested in serving as their district’s union representative.

Anyone who has been a SPEEA member for the preceding 12 months can run for Council Rep in their work area (district). Extensive training is provided.For those eligible and interested in serving, sub-mit a petition by 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 31. All Council Rep seats are up for election for new, two-year terms.

Interested in running?• Find your district – Confirm your district

location by going to the 2021-2023 district delineation at www.speea.org (drop-down menu - Councils/Forms, Petitions).

Look for your bargaining unit, location, building, and in some cases, floor, to find your district.

• Collect petition signatures – Petitions and election instructions are at www.speea.org (drop-down menu - Councils/Forms and Petitions). The petitions require a minimum of 15 members’ signa-tures. If you’re working remote, a template and instructions are provided to seek elec-tronic signatures.

• Email petition/candidate statement– Email your petition (scan if printed) to petitions@speea.org by 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 31. Include a 150-word (max) candidate statement. This will be used for ballot packets in case of contested races.

All Council Reps will be seated at the May 13 regional Council meetings.

Working remote?You can use company email and phones to ask members for their personal contact information to discuss personal business off line. Then you can send a message, using your personal computer, to ask for their electronic signature. You cannot collect petition signatures from your work email because of federal law regarding union campaigns.The SPEEA election instructions include a template for asking a member’s electronic signature along with a special email address for their reply.

All seats up for election

Run for Council Rep to help co-workers and learn more about SPEEA

Why become a Council Rep• Learn more about your union and

contract as you help answer members’ questions.

• Help set the policy and direction for the union through voting on motions at monthly Council meetings.

• Hear more about issues in the workplace through reports from SPEEA leaders at the Council meetings.

• Gain leadership training to help you with your workplace role as an advocate and receive recognition from your manager and peers for volunteering.

• Strengthen the union through outreach to members to ensure they are informed about their contract and benefits.

More about the roleSee the special section for Council Reps under Member Tools at www.speea.org.

Helpful networkFrom members in the workplace to staff, Council Reps can rely on others for help.

• Area Reps – Since one of the key roles of a Council Rep is to keep members informed, they recruit members to become Area Reps. Area Reps relay SPEEA news and information to a smaller subgroup of coworkers. The Area Reps can also connect members to Council Reps to find answers to questions.

• Other Council Reps – You can team up with Council Reps in your area to co-host virtual lunchtime meetings with your district’s Area Reps or organize lunchtime meetings with SPEEA staff presenting information on topics such as retirement, benefits and other contract issues.

• SPEEA staff - Contract administrators work directly with Council Reps. They

help with contract questions, enforcement and workplace issues. Contract administrators can also present lunchtime meetings on topics such as training or updates for your Area Reps and/or members. In addition, SPEEA staff helps with communication and outreach.

Council Rep attendanceThe Council Rep meeting attendance log for 2019-2021 (opposite page) includes the number of meetings seated (if currently serving as Council Rep) and the number of meetings attended, whether in-person or through a designated alternate. The meeting total includes special/additional meetings if applicable. For example, bargain-ing unit councils hold separate meetings related to contract votes. Also, only the Midwest holds a regional Council meeting the same day of most SPEEA Council meetings. 

All seats up for election

This photo from the SPEEA archives was taken at the SPEEA Tukwila Hall during a Council meeting prior to the COVID pandemic.

5 SPEEA SPOTLITEMARCH 2021

Name District Start Date Total

Ryan Rule Pres 5/27/2020 21/23

Michelle Cooper Treas 5/27/2020 10/11

Shaunna Winton Sec 5/27/2020 5/11

Michael Shea NWVP 3/27/2019 12/24

Daniel Peters NWVP 3/27/2019 23/24

Dan Nowlin NWVP 3/27/2019 23/24

Keith Covert MWVP 3/27/2019 23/25

Zakaria Abdelalim A-10 8/13/2020 6/8

Kevin Mjor A-10 6/7/2019 23/23

Colin Wright A-20 5/9/2019 21/24

Douglas Brazeal A-30 5/9/2019 24/24

Kevin Powers AS-10 4/9/2020 9/12

Jeff rey Forbes D- 2 5/9/2019 23/24

Andrew Alenski D- 5 5/9/2019 23/23

Jeetendra Duwadi D- 5 11/14/2019 12/17

Ronald Claypool D- 6 5/9/2019 21/24

Nathan Ledbetter D- 7 12/12/2019 13/16

Amy Freiburghaus D- 9 5/9/2019 22/23

Michael Pirone D- 9 7/9/2020 9/9

Deborah Pennington E- 2 5/9/2019 21/24

Tom Klipp E- 6 8/8/2019 21/21

James Roberts E- 8 5/9/2019 24/24

Shawn Atkinson E-10 6/11/2020 11/11

Matt Carlsen E-10 6/11/2020 11/11

Sean Peters E-10 5/9/2019 22/24

Thomas Kummer E-11 5/9/2019 10/23

Eric Stewart E-11 5/9/2019 22/23

Rick Williamson E-11 5/9/2019 22/23

Kayhan Ezati E-13 7/10/2020 8/9

Matthew Conley E-14 5/9/2019 5/24

Amad El-Disi E-15 5/9/2019 18/23

Joseph Hrebik E-15 6/7/2019 15/22

Kerth Downs E-17 5/9/2019 22/23

David Garrett E-17 5/9/2019 23/23

Lindsey Meiling E-17 5/9/2019 18/23

Ernest White E-18 5/9/2019 22/24

Mohammed Kadir E-21 5/9/2019 21/23

Andrea Bruns E-22 9/12/2019 14/20

Regan McNabb E-22 9/12/2019 3/20

John Dimas E-23 5/9/2019 22/23

Roderick Siders E-23 5/9/2019 21/23

Tami Reichersamer E-24 7/11/2019 13/22

Nikolas Geiselman E-25 5/9/2019 15/23

John Cardiel E-26 5/9/2019 17/24

Andrew Wacker E-27 5/9/2019 3/23

Aaron Allen E-28 5/9/2019 15/24

Benjamin Briles E-29 5/9/2019 23/23

Jan Goegan E-29 5/9/2019 19/23

Ann Leba E-29 5/9/2019 20/23

Richard Mochow E-29 5/9/2019 23/23

Jatinder Singh E-29 5/9/2019 21/23

Mark Veturis E-30 4/9/2020 11/12

Marjorie Blanco E-31 6/7/2019 21/22

David Fritz E-31 5/9/2019 23/23

Bradley Kibbel E-31 5/9/2019 20/23

Carolyn Wilson E-31 5/9/2019 23/23

Amanda Correll E-32 5/9/2010 16/24

Full Name District Start Date Total

William Mark

Worden

E-33 5/9/2019 22/23

Harkamaljit Deol E-35 12/12/2019 13/16

Dung Ho E-35 6/11/2020 11/11

Mark Testen E-35 10/8/2020 5/5

Michael Studebaker E-37 5/9/2019 20/23

Byron Henderson E-50 5/9/2019 23/24

James Raskob E-60 5/9/2019 24/24

Mohammed Khan ES-10 6/7/2019 18/22

Michael Arrington F-10 5/9/2019 24/24

Amir Shaterian K-10 5/9/2019 21/24

Emily Brent-Fulps O-10 5/9/2019 23/24

Albert Phillips O-10 5/9/2019 9/24

Behyar Goudarzian P- 1 5/9/2019 21/23

Gordon Yip P- 1 5/9/2019 23/23

David Carpenter P- 2 5/9/2019 23/24

Stanley Huang P- 3 5/9/2019 23/23

Brian Connolly P- 4 5/9/2019 12/24

Theryl Johnson P- 5 5/9/2019 22/23

Konstantin Terentjev P- 5 5/9/2019 22/23

Rick Yost P-10 5/9/2019 16/24

Deb Powell PLT 5/14/2020 1/11

Deena Hougham R- 1 5/9/2019 22/23

Mira Martirossian R- 1 6/7/2019 17/22

Mary Beebe R- 2 7/9/2020 9/9

Joseph Pham R- 3 5/9/2019 22/23

Daniel Sergent R- 3 5/9/2019 23/23

Michael Burdette R- 4 5/9/2019 23/24

Mark Friesen R- 5 5/9/2019 18/23

Richard Mahoney R- 5 5/9/2019 21/23

Peter Goodfellow R- 6 5/9/2019 24/24

Alvin Xayasensouk RS-10 8/8/2019 20/21

Julie-Elisa Acosta S- 1 5/9/2019 24/25

Benjamin Blankley S- 1 5/9/2019 25/25

RMatthew Joyce S- 1 5/9/2019 25/25

Ricky Nelson S- 1 5/9/2019 22/25

Christopher Streckfus S- 1 5/9/2019 24/25

Shelly Jones S- 2 5/9/2019 18/25

Aaron Kitterman S- 2 5/9/2019 22/25

Catherine Yeager S- 4 5/9/2019 24/25

Daniel Ryan S- 6 5/9/2019 22/25

Mark Gayer S- 8 5/9/2019 23/25

Emily Forest S-12 5/9/2019 21/25

Wes Gardner S-12 5/9/2019 22/25

Dianna Pyles-Tauer S-12 5/9/2019 24/25

Tonya Sanders S-12 5/9/2019 25/25

Ponolar (Evette)

Washington

S-12 5/9/2019 24/25

Daryl Doshier S-18 5/9/2019 20/25

Sarah Hirschfeld-

Webb

S-18 5/9/2019 23/25

George Hunter S-18 10/8/2020 7/7

Nancy Steele S-26 5/9/2019 24/25

Tony Hickerson T-10 5/9/2019 21/24

Timothy Conley W-10 5/9/2019 1/22

Roger Aisaka X-10 5/9/2019 24/24

2019- 2021 Council AttendanceShown below current Council members

IFPTE Legislative Conference

Member outreach to Congress makes a difference By Brandon AndersonSPEEA Legislative Director

IFPTE members, officials and staff hosted the annual legislative conference Feb. 8 to address critical federal policy issues impacting union

membership across the nation. Due to COVID-19, IFPTE was unable to hold an in-person conference. Despite the constraints, SPEEA delegates found the legislative forum a productive and informative event. Here are the key takeaways from the conference:

Legislators recognize union powerCongresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (District of Columbia (D.C.) and Congressman Andy Kim (3rd District, N.J.) gave participants an insightful overview of their expectations for the 117th Congress. They also addressed the significant issues impact-ing America’s working families. Their remarks highlighted the vital role of IFPTE members and their families in shaping policy within Congress.

Hope for PRO Act passageIf passed, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act would overturn decades of anti-worker court and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rulings.The bill would make organizing, winning elections and bargaining first contracts easier for workers.If passed, this would also increase corporate labor law-breaking fines, make court orders against violators easier to obtain and void the labor law provision that approves so-called “Right-to-Work” laws. Both organized labor and leadership in the U.S. House and Senate indicated that the PRO Act is a top priority after securing coronavirus economic aid.

SPEEA is actively shaping policy in D.C.For several months, SPEEA members and IFPTE leaders have been campaigning lawmakers to provide job protections and payroll support for workers in the aerospace manufacturing industry. SPEEA worked to include strong worker protection language to ensure federal funds applied to rehire or keep workers employed in the industry and prevent misuse of the funds. The most recent House budget reconciliation bill includes $3 billion to support aerospace manufacturing jobs and contains strong accountability language, which is a direct result of SPEEA and IFPTE’s advocacy efforts.

6 SPEEA SPOTLITEMARCH 2021

Boeing Profs and Techs

Look for retention rating

Boeing managers are distributing reten-tion rating notices from March 2 through April 1 to SPEEA Profs and Techs.

About retention ratingsRetention ratings are assigned by management to determine the order of layoff if needed. Both the ranking and rating are done within the same major organization, job family and Skill Management Code (SMC) and level if in the Tech Unit.

Check your competenciesWhen you receive your retention rating, remember to look at the information related to competencies. This can affect your Performance Management and salary adjustment. Ask your Council Rep for a lunchtime meeting on Performance Management, presented by SPEEA contract administrators, for more tips on discussing competencies and expectations

with your manager.

Appeal process for certain casesThe SPEEA Prof and Tech contracts include an appeal process (Article 8.4) for certain situations, such as:

• drop in retention rating• R3 rating during four or more

consecutive retention exercises• designation as ineligible for priority

recall in the event of layoffIf you want to request a retention-rating appeal, learn what’s required in the guide and request form online, at www.speea.org (drop-down menu: Member Tools/Retention).Deadline to request an appeal: You have 30 days after receiving your retention rating notice to file a completed appeal request form. Remember to review the retention information at www.speea.org to learn more about the process.

Helping Other People Excel (HOPE) award

Nominate a member for SPEEA volunteer award

Know a SPEEA activist who is involved “above and beyond” in his/her/their community? Nominate them for the

Stephen Pezzini Helping Other People Excel (HOPE) award. Nominees must be a member in good standing from any SPEEA bargaining unit in Washington, Kansas, Oregon, Utah or California.SPEEA started this award in honor of Pezzini, an Everett Council Rep. Pezzini made a big difference in his community and developed a reputation for his steadfast support of members. He died of cancer in 1995 when he was only 36.

2020 Pezzini award recipientWichita Council Rep Daniel Ryan won last year’s Pezzini HOPE award. In addition to serv-ing as a Council Rep, Ryan is very active in SPEEA and community events, including the Race for Freedom, the Lights on St. Paul fund-raiser and the SPEEA paper plane contest for Wichita Riverfest and more. Ryan also manages charitable fundraising efforts at his worksite.

Know someone who fits?Help them gain honor and recognition for their efforts by sending the following information toterryh@speea.org by Tuesday, April 20.

• your contact information and nominee’s contact information

• details about the member’s SPEEA and community involvement

• why you think the nominee is worthy of an award recognizing time and effort ‘beyond expectation’

Apply for HOPE award nomination committee

Members can also sign up to join the SPEEA Council officers on the award review committee. Interested? Send your name and contact information to terryh@speea.org by Tuesday, April 20.

Triumph to close Spokane facility

SPOKANE, Wash. – Triumph Composite Systems will close its Spokane facility by the summer of 2022. Layoffs will begin

this month. Of the 130-plus jobs affected, a total of 12 are SPEEA-represented. Triumph cited significant production rate cuts caused by impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry.In October 2020, SPEEA members approved a new one-year contract, which secured a layoff benefit payout of four to 12 weeks depending on length of service.

The contract also guarantees Paid Time Off (PTO) balance payout, including up to 80 hours carried over from the previous contract. SPEEA will continue to monitor adherence to the contract and support those with layoff notices.The Spokane site started as a Boeing site in 1990. Triumph bought the plant from Boeing in 2003. And, like Boeing, Triumph benefited from the Washington Aerospace Tax Incentives. A few years ago, Triumph started outsourcing jobs to a plant in Mexico. Prior to downsizing, the plant employed more than 600 people.

Boeing

Change to pharmacy manager triggers questions

Boeing recently switched its pharmacy manager from Express Scripts to Prime Therapeutics and Alliance Walgreens

Prime. Many members have reported delays or communication issues from Alliance Walgreens Prime.If members have issues with their prescriptions, SPEEA recommends referring to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) published in the Feb. 10 Boeing News Now (BNN) article on the pharmacy manager transition.If the FAQ doesn’t solve the issues, contact Jason Collette, SPEEA benefits coordinator/contract administrator, at jasonc@speea.org for assistance.

Make sure to reach out before the prescription(s) run out.

WTPU contract update

The Wichita Technical and Professional Unit (WTPU) contract is at the printer. When finished, the contract goes in the

mail to all WTPU bargaining unit employees’ homes. The contract is also available online at www.speea.org (drop-down menu: Bargaining Units/Contracts).

COVID Photo Policy

SPEEA publications and the website are only using group photographs if everyone in the photo is wearing a proper facial covering.

Children under the age of two years and individ-uals in the same immediate family are exempt.

This policy remains in effect in compliance with public health guidelines and until the SPEEA Executive Board rescinds the policy.

7 SPEEA SPOTLITEMARCH 2021

SPEEA-Boeing site partnerships

Keeping an open line of communication with managementBy Jerry DiLeonardoSPEEA Co-Director Ed Wells Partnership

The SPEEA/Boeing Ed Wells program was born out of ideas put forth by SPEEA activists who saw a need for

career development opportunities as well as a desire to work together with the company to achieve mutual goals. Since starting the training component because of contract language in 1995, Ed Wells evolved to focus on a career development program for SPEEA-represented engineers and techs. As a result of contract language negotiated in 2000, the partnership evolved to ensure more open communication between union and company leaders.

Partnership Leadership TeamThe Ed Wells program hosts the Partnership Leadership (PLT) Team made up of Boeing executives and managers on one side and SPEEA leaders and activists on the other.Included on the SPEEA side are three at-large SPEEA members who are appointed by the Executive Board for three-year terms. The team meets quarterly and keeps abreast of the individual site partnerships as well as providing a forum to elevate partnership issues relevant to all the sites in the Puget Sound. Although the PLT is a good forum, the heart and soul of partnership resides in the individual site-partnership teams. This is where the real work gets done and where SPEEA represented employees can get involved.

Site-specific partnershipsEverett - You may know the site partnerships by their common names. Up north and by far the largest partnership, you have the Everett Roundtable, which meets quarterly. Everett Council Reps meet with site management

to address issues of mutual concern in the workplace. Associated with the Roundtable is a planning team that meets more often to set the agenda for the partnership.Renton - In the South Sound, there is the Renton Site Partnership. The Renton Partnership steering team meets every two weeks, and the entire partnership meets quarterly. The partnership in Renton differs from the Roundtable in that everyone represented by SPEEA is invited to the quarterly meetings, not just Council Reps.Seattle Corridor - The newest of the partnerships is Seattle Corridor Partnership that encompasses the area around Boeing Field and the Developmental Center as well as Kent. They meet quarterly with an open invitation to all local Council and Area Reps to hear messages from leadership, a variety of speakers and a facilities report. The group’s charter emphasizes partnering, respect and trust between the major organizations’ site managers and represented employees.Other partnerships - There are two other long running, smaller partnerships. The Auburn Leadership Team (ALT) and the Facilities Engineering and Technical Partnership. Both of these are unique in their structure and mission designed to serve the needs of the employees who work in their respective areas.For all of the sites’ differences, there is one common thread running through the partnerships – the desire to solve non-contractual issues at a low level and to keep an open line of communication between management and the SPEEA-represented workforce. In that vein, they are doing a wonderful job.If you are interested in getting involved with the union, finding out more about the partnership for your area is a great way to get your toe in the water. You can find points of contact for each partnership in the sidebar.

SPEEA-Boeing Site PartnershipsAuburn Leadership Team

Staff Focal: Frank Guglielmo(frankg@speea.org)

Recent topic: Remote working

Everett Roundtable

Staff Focal: Nikki Wagener (nikkiw@speea.org)

Recent topics: State of the business, mentoring, unconscious bias

Renton SPEEA Partnership

Staff Focal: Mike Hochberg (mikeh@speea.org)

Recent topics: Workforce updates, Boeing’s return-to-work plan

Seattle Corridor PartnershipStaff Focal: Hillary McConnell

(hillarym@speea.org)

Recent topics: Diversity and inclusion, health and safety

Facilities Engineering & Technical Partnership

Staff Focal: Frank Guglielmo (frankg@speea.org)

Recent topics: Workforce forecasts and upgrades

Ed Wells Partnership coordinates the site-specific partnerships, which are

outlined in the SPEEA Prof and Tech contracts.

Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, IFPTE Local 2001, AFL-CIO, CLC15205 52nd Ave. S • Seattle, WA 98188

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:THE SPEEA SPOTLITE • 15205 52nd Ave. S • Seattle, WA 98188

Periodicals Postage Paid at Seattle, WashingtonLocal 2001, AFL-CIO, CLC

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8 SPEEA SPOTLITEMARCH 2021

John Sweeney, former AFL-CIO president, passes

SPEEA is saddened by the death of for-mer AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, who supported and visited the picket line

during our historic 40-day strike in 2000. Sweeney died Feb. 1. He was 86. In a statement, IFPTE President Paul Shearonnoted: “We at IFPTE will always remember and pay gratitude to President Sweeney, as he, along with then Secretary-Treasurer Trumka, provid-ed the solidarity and strength we needed during SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001’s successful strike against The Boeing Company in 2000.”Sweeney worked as a researcher with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union, a predecessor to UNITE HERE. Then he went to work for the Building Service Employees International Union, known today as SEIU. Sweeney worked his way up the ranks to become president of Local 32B in 1976 and president of the national SEIU in 1980.Sweeney served as AFL-CIO president from 1995-2009. During that time, he founded the Union Summer campaign to recruit young peo-ple as organizers. He also pushed the labor move-ment toward more diversity, with an emphasis on civil rights, racial justice and gender equality.

SPEEA Veterans Committee

Tricare offers extra medical coverage for veterans

SPEEA-represented veterans at The Boeing Company may not realize they are eligible for Tricare medical coverage.

Combining Tricare with Boeing health coverage could save up to thousands of dollars with very little effort. Tricare considers Boeing medical cover-age Other Health Insurance (OHI). Tricare becomes a second payer, or possibly even a third payer if you are already double-covered through a spouse, for example. After Boeing medical coverage pays the provid-er, the provider can submit the claim to Tricare, which can ultimately pay any deductible, copay or coinsurance balances.

High Deductible Health Plan caution

Proceed with caution if you are on Boeing’s High Deductible Health Plan, the Advantage+ plan. Enrolling in Tricare makes you ineligible to establish or fund a Health Savings Account (HSA), so you cannot accept Boeing’s HSA contribution or contribute yourself if you are enrolled in Tricare.

Options for Tricare plansAlthough Tricare offers multiple plans, Tricare Select is the version of Tricare that appears to work best in most cases. Prior to 2021, there were no premiums associat-ed with Tricare Select. Starting this year, Tricare Select charges a premium of $150 per year for individuals or $300 per year for a family. Tricare Prime is another option. This plan has no deductible but a higher annual premi-um ($303/$606 for an individual and family respectively).

Depending on the Boeing coverage you have and your specific medical needs, the cost of Tricare can still be of great value, whichever version you choose.

Worth it?You might wonder if Tricare as a second payer is too difficult to bother with, but user experience suggests otherwise. Providers are very familiar with Tricare and will coordinate benefits for you, except in rare circumstances. Everyone’s situation is different in terms of Tricare eligibility and their own medical coverage needs. The point of the article is to inform you this benefit is available for those who earned it. (Editors’ Note: The SPEEA Veterans Committee submitted this article to help raise awareness.)

About the SPEEA Veterans Committee

This committee provides an avenue for address-ing problems and issues specifically related to veterans and their families. The committee pro-vides information and education to help. The committee also works with the IFPTE Veterans Committee to influence national positions, leg-islation and administrative rulemaking. Next meeting – Thursday, March 25, at 4 p.m. (Pacific) / 6 p.m. (Central). See committee details, including the bimonthly schedule, at www.speea.org (drop-down menu: Councils/Council Committees/SPEEA Council Committees). Email meetings@speea.org to sign up for the next meeting.

Take the SPEEA L&I grant survey!

As part of our work to enhance opportu-nities and advanced aerospace training, SPEEA is asking members to take a short

survey on the grant from Washington Labor and Industries. Watch your email or visit the SPEEA home page - www.speea.org - to provide your feedback.