Boeing Engineers Union Names New Leader

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5475517.html

Jan. 22, 2008, 3:33PM

© 2008 The Associated Press

SEATTLE — The union representing most of Boeing Co.'s engineers and technical workers has named a new leader, six months after its board voted to fire the previous longtime executive director.

Ray Goforth, a union representative and strategic adviser in the Seattle local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, replaces Charles Bofferding at the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, an affiliate of IFPTE.

Last fall, four board members who pushed to oust Bofferding lost their seats in a recall election. On Tuesday, SPEEA said its seven-member executive board voted unanimously to hire Goforth.

"It's a new day and a new start at SPEEA," said Cynthia Cole, the board president said in a statement.

Goforth, described by colleagues as a tough negotiator, takes over as SPEEA is gearing up to negotiate a new contract with Boeing. The current contract for the union's largest unit, the one covering more than 20,000 Seattle-area workers, expires in December.

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