The union representing Boeing's engineers and technical workers alleged this week that the company is illegally banning employees from passing out union leaflets at the company's Everett plant and unlawfully requiring workers' mandatory meetings about an ongoing vote on a contract proposal.
The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace said it has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board over those alleged violations.
SPEEA members are now voting whether to accept or reject Boeing's "best and final offer" for a new contract. Those ballots will be counted next Tuesday. Union negotiators have recommended rejection, mostly because of pension provisions that would gradually replace the company's defined benefit pension plan with an enhanced 401(k) savings plan.
The union's nearly 23,000 members will also vote whether to allow negotiators the power to call a strike if further talks fail.
Contract talks started in April 2012.
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