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Linda Maynard preps ballots for counting at SPEEA headquarters in Tukwila, Feb. 19. - Brian Beckley/Renton Reporter
Brian Beckley/Renton Reporter
Linda Maynard preps ballots for counting at SPEEA headquarters in Tukwila, Feb. 19.

SPEEA splits vote

By BRIAN BECKLEY
Renton Reporter Assistant Editor
February 20, 2013 · Updated 11:04 AM 

The union representing Boeing's professional and technical workers has handed in a split decision on the company's most recent contract offer.

The engineers have accepted the contract while the technical workers rejected the offer. In addition, the technical workers gave the bargaining unit the authorization to strike if they felt necessary.

According to SPEEA, the numbers shook out like this as of 11 p.m.:

The NW Professional Unit Accept the contract 6,483 to 5,514, but also authorized a strike 6,727 to 5,249, just in case.

The NW Technical Unit voted to reject the contract by a margin of 3,203 to 2,868 and authorized a strike 3,903 to 2,165.

The union has been working without a contract since November.

The primary bone of contention at this point is a change to the prior contract by the company that would place future hires in a 401K program instead of the pension plan.

SPEAA last went on strike in 2000. It lasted 42 days.

More on this story as it develops.

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