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The 2008 Union Negotiations Process

• The current three-year IAM labor contract expires Sept. 3, 2008.
• The current three-year year SPEEA labor contracts expire Dec. 1, 2008.
• Labor negotiations are governed by federal and state labor law, and require Boeing and the unions to bargain in good faith concerning wages, benefits and the terms and conditions of employment. "Good faith" is defined as a sincere intent to reach agreement.
• The Boeing negotiating committee members represent the company in all contract negotiation discussions. They include Human Resources representatives, subject matter experts and management.
• Leading up to and during the negotiations, all managers and other Boeing leaders may share information with employees on company positions and perspectives on contract-related topics.
• When formal negotiations begin, the company and union begin discussing proposals, although informal discussions around concepts (without details) can occur much earlier.
• Before the current contracts expire, Boeing will present IAM and SPEEA with its best and final offers, then communicate the offers to employees.
• IAM and SPEEA determine the voting schedule and method (in-person, by-mail, and so forth).
• If ratified, the IAM contract likely will take effect on Sept. 4; the SPEEA contract on Dec. 2.