Boeing eyes shift in union fight

Boeing's engineers not only design new planes, they also inspect those being built and sign off on the work before aircraft are delivered. That means any labor action would interrupt work flow during a record production increase, so the aircraft maker must balance that risk with winning cost savings in a contract to replace the one expiring Oct. 6.

Talks so far have been contentious, with disagreement strongest over Boeing's plan to switch new engineers to a 401(k)-style retirement benefit rather than a pension, according to the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace.

Speea, as the union is known, represents about 23,000 Boeing workers, mostly based in the Seattle area. Its 15,000 engineers make an average of $110,000 a year, while 8,000 technical workers under the same contract earn an average $79,000.

Other U.S. metropolitan areas where Boeing has engineering operations are less expensive, Delaney said, including St. Louis, Houston, San Antonio, Huntsville, Ala., and Ridley Township, Delaware County.

"Everybody who worked on the 787 will tell you that the vast majority of problems came from lack of coordination due to the separation of engineering from manufacturing," said Ray Goforth, Speea's executive director. "To have Boeing resurrect this failed model to threaten employees into accepting pay and benefit cuts is the most disrespectful thing I've heard yet in these negotiations."