Speaking of the issues

Health care proposals

August 26, 2008 – click here to read second offer highlights

August 22, 2008 – click here to read first offer highlights

July 29, 2008 – Proposed discontinuation of early-retiree medical for future Boeing hires

Also today, Boeing proposed discontinuing the early-retiree medical plan for IAM-represented employees in Puget Sound, Portland and Wichita hired after July 1, 2009.

Boeing discontinued early-retiree medical for nonunion employees hired after Jan. 1, 1999. Early-retiree medical also has been discontinued for new hires in all but four of Boeing’s 50 labor agreements.

July 2, 2008: Proposed health care and insurance benefit improvements

Boeing proposed that the following plans be offered to employees, without monthly payroll contributions, for the duration of the upcoming contract:

• Traditional Medical Plan (for Puget Sound and all other areas not listed below)
• Preferred Plus of Kansas HMO (for Wichita)
• Kaiser Permanente HMO (for Portland; Cowlitz and Clark counties in Washington state; and California)

Boeing also is proposing a new optional plan called the PPO+Account as a second “no-contribution” plan in all these locations.

Boeing also proposed several improvements in health care and insurance benefits that the union has requested. These include improvements in areas such as wellness and preventive care, dental coverage, vision coverage and life insurance. Under this proposal, employees’ cost would increase moderately, but the cost would remain significantly below market rates. Boeing would continue to pay the vast majority of total health care and insurance costs.