r/boeing • u/TheRedditAppSucccks • 8d ago
Strike plan for Speea
For those of us who have never been through a strike before, can someone list out everything newbies should prepare? What do we do about insurance? How about paying bills? Side hustle or part time job ideas? All advice is appreciated.
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u/Wonderful_Tone_79 7d ago
Get a fishing rod. I would do Uber or Door Dash as well. Unemployment kicks in after 2 week. More home cooking and less eating out. You'll be alright.
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u/NaturalSubstantial47 8d ago
Apply for unemployment, legitimately look for better opportunities, apply for what interests you, eat plenty of ramen, and ride it out. The future is around the corner and you'll be a part of it. #HODOR
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u/BocsElder 7d ago
Yall for sure thinking youre gonna strike? Isnt there a discussion tomorrow and another vote before 10/07?
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u/TheoreticalLime 5d ago
We have time before Oct 6th to work things out. I wouldn't expect a strike unless Boeing decides to play hardball.
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u/t-shirt-froth-kung 1d ago
They did with IAM751. They'll do it with SPEEA. The only ones they actually fear are the Teamsters.
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u/WillyWhitefreeze 7d ago
A little late to hear this but I tell every new hire I’ve met to start sticking away money for when the strike or layoff happens. It’s not a matter “if” but “when”. This is aerospace after all.
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u/my0wn5ummer 8d ago edited 8d ago
Losing insurance is a major way they scare you during a strike. Maybe #1. You can pay for cobra but its very expensive. The big problem is if you need medications that are expensive without insurance. The union may have resources to help with that.
I believe at the end of IAM strike, it was negotiationed that the company insurance would retroactively cover everything through the strike.
So if you stay strong that can easily be negotiated.
Its ironic but if you're weak then the strike folds and you get less. If you stay strong with big no vote %, the company will be over a barrel in negotiations. Then union negotiators can maximize the contract for members.
These days you need to maximize. Inflations out of control and looks to be getting worse. Remember that 200k is the new 100k.
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u/blue_wolf_forever 8d ago
The insurance is an easy fix. Don't use cobra, go through Washington health finder, way cheaper since you are making no money. Plus, it has almost always been reinstated retro after contract. Which covered thing cost I would have normally be paid, since at that point I had double coverage?
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u/Myles_Standish250 8d ago
After my layoff from Blue Origin I was on Cobra for a full year. It was $500 a month for just myself. My wife’s insurance refused to allow me to be added because I had the option to use Cobra which I thought was BS but that’s what they told us.
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u/SouthernDiver746 7d ago
From what I have gathered, you can collect unemployment. I am unsure if you also can get money from the union this is my first strike. My partner is IAM though and they did get an allowance every week. We can also tap into our 401k as well to help with money as well. During the IAM strike, BECU offered relief to boeing workers affect by the strike as well. There are alot of options and there will be many more coming and many more known as it gets closer to strike time!
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u/TheRedditAppSucccks 7d ago
Speea has no strike fund, not sure why that is and where our money goes. Unemployment is available after 2 weeks for up to 6 weeks at 60%.
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u/ColdestHeartCC 7d ago
Raising dues for a strike fund is not popular
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u/TheRedditAppSucccks 7d ago
Rough math says they collect 11 million a year. Thats not enough?
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u/Think-Gap602 7d ago
correct. the full budget and spending is available on the website.
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u/Masango72 7d ago
Do you have a link? Not being lazy, just perhaps blind. Tried finding it on the site but couldn't spot it
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u/Think-Gap602 7d ago
check this month's or last month Spotlight magazine online. I think it was recently published
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7d ago
[deleted]
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u/Think-Gap602 7d ago
not a shame. simple a decision of the membership
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u/jakemekauf 7d ago
IAM 751 Dues are $111/mo. They collected dues for 10+ years to build that strike fund. Compare that to speea dues and half membership.
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u/SouthernDiver746 7d ago
No strike fund? What the heck is speea doing with our money? A portion of that should be dedicated to strike funds that is never touched. Over 4 years that can total alot. But SPEEA also hasn't striked in 25 years so they havent had to worry about a strike fund either
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u/jakemekauf 7d ago
Our dues goes to staff, legal, shirts, mugs signage. IAM dues are based on average pay and is twice or 3 times that of SPEEA.
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u/Front_Raspberry_8987 5d ago
The SPEEA leadership salaries are posted online too, some of them make a lot of money
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u/SirSuaSponte 6d ago
We’re hiring at Lockheed
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u/TheoreticalLime 5d ago
With the conveniently timed changes to WA unemployment for striking. Lockheed and many others can be expecting thousands of qualified engineer applications if there is a strike.
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u/SirSuaSponte 5d ago
I flew on a Boeing aircraft while in the Air Force and wrote courseware for the Air Force on how to fly on another Boeing aircraft. I’ve worked for Lockheed for over a year and it’s a great company, treats their employees very well.
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u/faust0matic 5d ago
You can apply for unemployment in WA state now if you're going to be on strike. That came a little too late for IAM 751, but it would've helped
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u/UserRemoved 8d ago
Keep your bills below unemployment $1600/wk
stash $50k in the Roth for immediate withdrawal,
Put a loan on your 401k, repayment to yourself with interest
Buy a fishing license, 5 crab and 2 salmon a day you can’t worry. Seasoning is 25 cents.
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u/BoeingOnion 8d ago
Imma starve. I can't catch anything. Folks are going to to have a communal salmon bake over those burn barrels.
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u/Lookingfor68 7d ago
Back in 2000 we would frequently have people drop off pizzas and stuff. Mostly IAM folks. It was very much appreciated.
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u/NanoLogica001 7d ago
There was a member’s spouse who made a big pot of soup on the burn barrel top. Wow, that made a difference on a cold day!
SPEEA also received food donations throughout the strike. Like the huge bags of onions from Eastern Washington.
Key: stock up on basics like pasta, canned food, cereal, spices and herbs. Shopping at the grocery store during a strike would be perishable items.
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u/Lookingfor68 7d ago
Buying a whole chicken can feed you for 5 days. First night is roast chicken. Next night left overs. Third night is boiling the carcass to make soup. Fourth night is using left over soup to make a casserole. Then left over casserole on the 5th night. Great way to stretch out a single chicken, some noodles, and veggies.
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u/TheRedditAppSucccks 7d ago
I’ve never caught 2 salmon a day fishing in my life lol where are you fishing? I read the cap on unemployment is $1200 a week.
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u/midadoneit 8d ago edited 8d ago
Max unemployment payout is $1200/week. Many people will likely get around $1K/week. After taxes: around $750/week
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u/TheMasterDonk 7d ago
Full taxes don’t come out of UE checks, only 10%.
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u/midadoneit 7d ago
False, it's taxed at the level of your federal income bracket. You would have to make less than 11K annually to be taxed 10% which isn't true for six figure engineers.
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u/Think-Gap602 7d ago edited 7d ago
paycheck withholding and taxes owed are 2 different things. it may very well be true that only 10% is withheld from the check. It can also be true that come April 15, youll owe 25%, plus maybe a penalty for not making quarterly tax payments
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u/midadoneit 7d ago edited 7d ago
I think you have to revise your W4 to change withholdings but you're right.
Edit: Submit a W-4V to the unemployment office to revise federal income tax withholding to 10%.
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u/Fickle_Ad_5408 4d ago
Im good for a while. But the union is weak, well see if that changes this time.
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u/BoringBob84 8d ago
Health insurance will continue until the end of the month. After that, you are fucked. If you don't have savings, you need to consume less and borrow. Maybe you can get unemployment insurance. That wasn't an option in the past.
During the 2000 strike, two different supplier companies recruited me and I got a handsome raise to leave Boeing.
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u/MysteriousAffect3903 8d ago
As stated, your insurance runs through the end of October, if we do strike on the 7th, or it would be whatever month if the strike is delayed.
Cobra is expensive, but if you had something big (surgery, accident, etc.), you can pay for cobra retroactively. You don't have to get it right away, so if you don't end up needing it, you didn't fork out a huge amount for insurance you didn't use. I think you can go 2 months (at least) before you have to apply, and then it would be retroactive and cover any expenses. Learned this when I got laid off a couple of years ago.
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u/Vivid-Protection6731 8d ago
yeah that's a great point about COBRA. if there is a strike you don't have to run out and buy COBRA that first day.
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u/SirBrainBrawn 7d ago
You stay covered through the end of October because that’s when your employer coverage ends. After that, you have a 60‑day COBRA election window. If you elect COBRA anytime within those 60 days, so that can be at the end of December and your coverage can be retroactive back to November 1 — of course you’d pay the premiums for those months at sign-up.. that allows almost 3 months “breathing” room.
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u/TheRedditAppSucccks 8d ago
Where did you end up?
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u/BoringBob84 8d ago
I would like to reveal that information, but the internet can be nasty. Suffice it to say that I got a raise of over 40%. However, my benefits absolutely sucked in comparison to Boeing.
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u/TheRedditAppSucccks 7d ago
If your benefits suck did the 40% raise actually cover the loss of benefits?
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u/BoringBob84 7d ago
Yes. When I make a career change, I add up the entire package and make sure it is a net gain.
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u/MysteriousAffect3903 8d ago
I have been looking into options to defer my mortgage payments. I think it's possible for most people.
If you have a VA loan, there are increased options. There is a process to defer payments into what is essentially a 0% interest loan from the VA that you pay back at the end of the mortgage, or if you sell the house. This includes escrow. Basically, if you deferred for 6 months, your 30 year loan becomes 30.5 years of payments. I am 5 years in, and I don't think me in 25 years is gonna give a single shit about making a few more payments, especially since overall I'd pay the exact same amount. It messes with your credit short term and can affect applying for a new mortgage for a year or two, but very little impact long term.
There is a lot more to it, so read up if it applies to you, but it's nice to know I have this option, as one full paycheck plus goes to my mortgage every month.
I voted no, and didn't know this at the time, but I feel like maybe more would have voted no if they knew this, or the other things that could help.
I am eager to see what other advice people have.
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u/inspirationalsummer 8d ago
Good one. I think a lot of credit cards and loans have provisions to not accrue interest during event like a strike. Idk for sure though. You can ask. I have to add though that as a dad I recommend everyone never try to have credit card debt. It’s so hard to pull out of and it so much $ to the card company.
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u/NanoLogica001 7d ago
I recall most banks and credit unions have provisions to support striking workers. BECU definitely had programs.
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u/Careless-Internet-63 8d ago
Change retirement contributions to after tax. You can access the principal balance penalty free and you can roll it into Roth after the threat of a strike has passed. A bit late to rely on that for much savings but it's better than nothing if you weren't able to save outside of that. Try to get any necessary doctors appointments out of the way before, if we do lose our healthcare you will be eligible for Cobra and Cobra coverage can be retroactive so you can avoid buying it unless you have a need for it
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u/NightOwl216 6d ago
Even after tax withdrawals have early withdrawal penalty.
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u/Careless-Internet-63 6d ago
Only gains are subject to that. Withdrawal rules are such that you'd have to withdraw a proportional amount of gains and principal, but you'll still pay a lot less in penalties if you withdraw from after tax than traditional. Maybe even nothing depending on what the markets are doing
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u/alkabeerguy 6d ago
This is very bad news to me. I just moved from out of state so I don't have savings and I don't qualify for unemployment in Washington.
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u/3AMCareerCoach 4d ago edited 3d ago
Just found this info. For new hires in Washington, research eligibility for Combined Wage Program (CWC). This allows you to add previous out-of-state hours to your Washington State work hours to meet 680 hours required.
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u/icmtn 5d ago
You don’t have to strike. Work virtual. Nobody will know you crossed picket line. I thought the contact was a good offer, best yet. Last one was terrible but people voted yes. Makes no sense
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u/CoolCommunication466 20h ago
Your colleagues will know if you cross. They can just look the time and date your signature was applied. Boeing has a robust database- everything has a record.
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u/Opposite_Stomach_703 3d ago
If you can’t afford to strike then your pay is not enough to support living here
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u/rogthnor 8d ago
What's your building? Can get you in touch with your CR
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u/TheRedditAppSucccks 8d ago
CR?
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u/N_channel_device 8d ago
Council Representative. Boeing engineer who is an elected representative of SPEEA.
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u/Firm_Plane_7787 7d ago
Food pantries are everywhere and give out free food to everyone btw. Don't have to be poor at all. Most just require appointments
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u/inspirationalsummer 8d ago edited 8d ago
I believe our prescription plan allows for refills every like 21 or 24 days for a thirty day. Or of course some have the three month refills. Either way try to build a supply now by refilling to the day as early as possible. I’ve personally been doing that. Others are right, medical goes through the end of the month the strike starts. I do believe they retro cover stuff usually but I haven’t lived that myself. But this is why strikes start at around the beginning of a month and why a lot of times they go like 40 days. Company wants to push people past the month for leverage. Also take a screenshot of your vacation and sick leave balance before we go out, so you know they didn’t fuck it up while out (it doesnt accrue but you want to know your balances). I don’t think this is typically an issue but I’d rather be safe than sorry. Just because contract expires Oct 6, doesn’t mean that’s exactly when a strike would occur. Speea calls the date. They could delay if negotiations are going strong. In our case I do assume Oct 6 would be best but in 2000 I believe the strike was like Feb. not sure if that was after extensions went awry or what. I don’t remember
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u/inspirationalsummer 8d ago
Btw when you pick
Up your prescription is the day when it triggers the new 21 or 24 days cycle. So you pick up as soon as ready.
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u/monnea14 7d ago
Are we allowed to jump onto our spouses’ insurance through the company - he’s unrepresented? Wondering if that breaks any rules or is even allowed.
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u/Powerful-Stress7123 7d ago
How about signing a 30 percent increase , and taking a 32 k signing bonus
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u/Opposite_Stomach_703 2d ago
I am pretty sure if you have home loan or car payment call them to see if you can delay or extend the terms due to layoff situation
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u/InstaWhaaa 8d ago
If you didn't prepare financially, you can look at taking a loan out on your 401k.
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u/MysteriousAffect3903 8d ago
The danger of this is you'd have to make the payments yourself. I've looked into it as a way of paying my loc, and payments on a 50k loan are about 1000 a month, so it might be a heavy lift, but could make sense for some.
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u/InstaWhaaa 7d ago
Why would you need to take $50k to tide you over for a strike???
But yes, I forgot about that part, you will have to schedule payments. A much more modest $5-$10k will only run $50-$100/month, so just make sure you set aside a few hundred from what you take out.
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u/MysteriousAffect3903 7d ago
50k was just what I knew since my Loc is much higher, and I've looked into it. You're right, most people shouldn't need that. I decided to hold off on pulling a 401k loan before the contract because I didn't want to mess with it. But, my point is, it's a pretty good amount of payments, as it is a short term loan and decent, but not super high, interest. Of course, you're paying yourself, so that's a plus over paying the bank, as long as you factor in the loss of gains by having that money pulled out.
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u/UserRemoved 8d ago
It’s not a hit, you pay you.
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u/midadoneit 8d ago edited 8d ago
You pay yourself the interest but it's money better invested elsewhere. You're overinvesting into retirement at that point.
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u/No_Comfortable2998 7d ago
Any advice for someone who is struggling before this strike and has a wife who has Cancer? We are barely making it work as is. Im not sure I can afford a loan out against my 401k.
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u/jakemekauf 7d ago
You can take a fmla leave before strike. It is illegal for the company to terminate your medical benefits on FMLA leave during a work stoppage. Also can contact speea union hall to see if an arrangement can be made to continue working for extreme cases such as cancer treatment. Also there is an option to use COBRA and other unions like IAM advised not to pay the premium until the very last possible time incase it isnt used you are then wasting money. But if had to go to ER or have expensive prescriptions or treatment then send in the cobra payment. Contact union hall.
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u/RogerDodgerWilco 8d ago
Reminder to use r/unemploymentWA for unemployment related material. Was informed there were people giving bad advice during the IAM751 strike and bit a few people in the butt.
Also r/SPEEA may overall have more resource information as that is their dedicated sub. Am also told SPEEA has a discord server.