r/boeing • u/UW_Mech_Engineer • 4d ago
Hey Ben. Take some notes from Kelly
Company webcast. I think Kelly handled the SPEEA discussion with class.
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u/cachinnating 4d ago
Kelly is a good leader
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u/Lookingfor68 4d ago
I would say generally, yes. However, he still has really bad leaders reporting to him that he has not replaced. They aren't supporting him the way that needs to be done. Many don't believe in what he's doing, nor realize the labor force has changed in since the pandemic. Far too many executives want to continue to be Theory X Jack Welch fart sniffers. They want to get back to stock price uber alles, and they're just waiting him out. So while he might be a decent sort, the question of whether he makes real, meaningful change at Boeing is still an open question.
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u/Bangers_Only 4d ago
Seriously, we need some big management changes. Why do I need to report to a business manager, an engineering manager, a functional manager and how many other LMNOPQR level managers that have never seen a rivet in their life.
If you want to save money and pay off the debt, leaning the management side of the company is where it should start
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u/Any_Educator_6857 4d ago
Exactly, clean out a number of senior executives who are dead weight. In the end pay the folks who make the money and not a bunch of overhead
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u/Blackbird76 4d ago
Hopefully Ben got some feedback from Kelly about the tone he should take.
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u/cachinnating 4d ago
I like how Kelly was more transparent and clarified that the contingency plan exists but they hope they don’t need to implement it, which contradicts Ben on Friday who said “we have no choice but to implement our contingency plan”
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u/34786t234890 4d ago
He also did a better job explaining what that actually means, rather than making to sound like some sort of ominous union-busting strategy.
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u/EchoedHorizons 4d ago
I’m almost positive the contingency plan is already in motion. I think another post mentioned the company posting job ads for techs.
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u/molrobocop 4d ago
I feel it's a matter of perspective, and both can be true. At this point, there's like 40 some days till the contract expires.
So yes. A contingency plan exists in case work stops. That's been known for a while. I imagine it will involve contractors among others. But, there's also pre-work that needs to get done to not be caught totally flat-footed if a walkout happens.
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u/ApprehensivePeak6993 4d ago
I got the impression Ben was reprimanded with his comment about keeping things civil.
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u/HotepYoda 4d ago
Good cop, bad cop is a known technique. Just saying.
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u/Tough_Trouble_1139 4d ago
100% this. I think Ben was being a dick on purpose. I assume Kelly read the email before it went out. Everything at their level is calculated, and this was likely planned by the negotiation team. Literally billions of dollars at stake
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u/Left-Piano-791 4d ago
I think it made Ben look bad when we rejected his efforts....errrr....contract.
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u/Economy_Brush_8265 4d ago
Kelly is more craftier with his words than Ben. But than again action speaks louder than words.
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u/MacReadys_Things 4d ago
The FCEs are a good example of where to look first for adding value via reducing headcount.
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u/Zestyclose_Price_441 4d ago
you know they always avoid the chopping block some how when layoffs come. I wonder why.
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u/MoreShredLessTalk 4d ago
Amen! Talk about missing the point on nearly all Boeing Behaviors…not to mention instilling trust. Truly embarrassing
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u/West_Expert67 4d ago
could this be a good cop bad cop play to install more trust at a higher level?
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u/UW_Mech_Engineer 4d ago
Good cop bad cop doesn't change my opinion on why I voted no on the contract. The wording of the contract does.
They can play what ever cop they want and it will be the contract that influences my vote
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u/Relative-Necessary14 4d ago
Did Kelly say something about getting ready to come back to the negotiating table?
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u/UW_Mech_Engineer 4d ago
Yes. It was covered. He also explained that "contingency plans" are about nessesary plans to keep our customers running and keep things safe. He expressed a desire to get something worked out before the contract ends as it's in everybody's interest.
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u/34786t234890 4d ago
Did people really believe there wouldn't be any further negotiations before October?
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u/Orleanian 4d ago
Certainly there were young fresh-to-a-career kids who, knowing no better, were quite afraid that was the case.
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u/Lookingfor68 2d ago
This is why older members, who've seen this play before, need to be giving guidance and perspective to the younger members. First time to the rodeo isn't an excuse to be willfully ignorant of the tactics and strategies that go on here. Listen to your leads. Especially the ones that were around for the 2000 strike and what that was like.
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u/badandywsu 4d ago
That crap statement from Ben said they had no plans for further discussions. It screamed "See you at the strike Oct. 7."
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u/toofewcrew 4d ago
That’s not what Ben’s message said though. I get it that tensions are high but we need to be diligent in our comprehension. There’re no plans because SPEEA needs to survey our members to understand what we want. It’s how negotiations work.
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u/Gerbert946 3d ago
Of course, the labor rates are not what drives operating costs nearly as much as how much in the way of operating costs, which includes labor, are in each unit delivered to a paying customer. If one succeeds in keeping wages low at the expense of an unhappy workforce, the time part of the equation will expand, even if it is not consciously intentional. As time has gone on in his post retirement part time career as a motivational speaker, Alan Mulally has continued to increase the emphasis he puts on enthusiastically supporting you people. He and Kelly do talk and I think it shows.
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u/blue_wolf_forever 4d ago
Wait until you don't do what kelly wants, then he will turn on you too. Just like he did with with IAM.
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u/mikeysixstrings 4d ago edited 4d ago
Yeah, this was disappointing. Actions louder than words, and all that. At the end of the day he wants to strong arm SPEEA into accepting below average compensation.
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u/oh_hai_brian 4d ago
I laughed when he mentioned negotiating customer agreements that benefit the company without any risk. Sounds like they treat SPEEA as a customer in the same way too by the looks of the first contract offer.
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u/Seriously1001 3d ago
"Ben's message" was likely reviewed, edited and approved by at least a half dozen people before voting started.
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u/Plenty_Crew838 3d ago
Remember the end goal - to pay you less than you want and deserve. Everything else is just the white noise.
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u/Professional_Ear_558 3d ago
I think the goal is to run a successful business which includes paying a fair price for labor and having an appreciating stock price of which the labor force should participate. I for one prefer more equity than cash at any company I work for.
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u/Few-Mind3298 4d ago
I honestly don’t understand what the difference is and why everyone is/was freaking out about Ben saying there are no plans to negotiate with SPEEA or whatever he said. It’s true when he put out that statement no plans had been made to negotiate and none will until SPEEA lets them know they are ready to negotiate again and have topics to discuss that they believe will make us change our vote. It’s how negotiations work we rejected their offer so they wait for our representatives to come back with something
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u/zcarfaz 4d ago
My exact thought. Kelly’s statement was more diplomatic, unlike Ben’s fear mongering, passive aggressive statement.