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Machinist seeks delay in Boeing contract vote

The Columbian
Published: December 24, 2013, 4:00pm

SEATTLE — A Boeing machinist worker is seeking to delay a vote on a proposed contract with the company.

Union member Robley Evans filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, saying the union is not providing members a reasonable opportunity to vote because some will still be on vacation when the Jan. 3 vote occurs, The Seattle Times reported.

An official with the board says an investigation likely wouldn’t be completed before the vote. Brian Sweeney, deputy regional attorney for the NLRB in Seattle, said the complaint was received Monday and will be assigned to an agent who will investigate the matter.

“Typically, on a charge of this nature an investigation wouldn’t be done until mid-February,” Sweeney said.

National leaders at the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers recently announced the Jan. 3 vote would take place despite the objections of local union leaders who had rejected the contract offer. Local union leaders said they are developing an absentee voting process for those who might not be back from vacation when the vote occurs.

Local officials in the Machinists union have opposed sending the contract to a vote, arguing it is too similar to a proposal that workers rejected in November.

The latest Boeing offer would still move workers away from a traditional pension plan. However, the company has backed away from a proposal that would have slowed the rate at which employees rise up the pay scale.

The contract would secure work for Machinists in Puget Sound on the new 777X airplane at a time when 22 states are vying for those jobs.

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