Gay Boeing employee fighting for better benefits
EVERETT, Wash. -- Washington voters approved gay marriage, but some local companies are still wavering on what the means for their benefit plans.
One Boeing worker is now taking steps to make sure equality spreads through the workplace.
Under the state's domestic partnership law, Washington employers must provide benefits to their employees in same sex relationships. But that doesn't apply to benefit plans regulated by the federal government, and a Boeing employee is now hoping his company will do what he thinks is the right thing when it comes to benefits.
Ken Aphibal has worked for Boeing for more than 5 years.
"I love airplanes," he said. "My father is an aerospace engineer and I'm a second generation SPEEA member."
The only thing he loves more than his job is his fiance, Bennett. The couple has been together for more than three years and they were both elated when R-74 passed.
"We were waiting for the law to pass," Aphibal said.
But he now worries he may be forced to leave the company he has loved working for.
"I've got to question my ability of staying with this company for the rest of my life,because it doesn't seem like they want to support all their workforce," he said.
Earlier this week, Aphibal drafted an online petition urging Boeing to "honor the people of Washington state" by providing survivor pension benefits to married gay employees.
"Because the federal government doesn't recognize same sex marriages, the Boeing company is standing in line that they will not recognize same sex marriages as they would opposite sex marriages," he said.
More than 500 people have already signed the petition, and Aphibal said he's hoping to get 50,000 signatures by December 21.
"I know that there are people out there who really have a great passion to ensure that everyone is treated equal," Aphibal said.
On Thursday, Boeing released a statement about the controversy, saying, "The company is taking a closer look at R-74 and its impact on current policies and benefits once the law goes into effect in Washington state in December. We're studying how any change to our pension plan would impact our growing pension obligations, and we'll continue to discuss it with SPEEA."
Aphibal doesn't want to leave Boeing, but he said he would if he had to.
"I love my fiance more than I love this company, and that makes me very sad to say that if I had to pick I would have to walk away from this company should this benefit not go through," he said.
Boeing officials have said a federal mediator will meet with Boeing and SPEEA to work towards a contract agreement.
One Boeing worker is now taking steps to make sure equality spreads through the workplace.
Under the state's domestic partnership law, Washington employers must provide benefits to their employees in same sex relationships. But that doesn't apply to benefit plans regulated by the federal government, and a Boeing employee is now hoping his company will do what he thinks is the right thing when it comes to benefits.
Ken Aphibal has worked for Boeing for more than 5 years.
"I love airplanes," he said. "My father is an aerospace engineer and I'm a second generation SPEEA member."
The only thing he loves more than his job is his fiance, Bennett. The couple has been together for more than three years and they were both elated when R-74 passed.
"We were waiting for the law to pass," Aphibal said.
But he now worries he may be forced to leave the company he has loved working for.
"I've got to question my ability of staying with this company for the rest of my life,because it doesn't seem like they want to support all their workforce," he said.
Earlier this week, Aphibal drafted an online petition urging Boeing to "honor the people of Washington state" by providing survivor pension benefits to married gay employees.
"Because the federal government doesn't recognize same sex marriages, the Boeing company is standing in line that they will not recognize same sex marriages as they would opposite sex marriages," he said.
More than 500 people have already signed the petition, and Aphibal said he's hoping to get 50,000 signatures by December 21.
"I know that there are people out there who really have a great passion to ensure that everyone is treated equal," Aphibal said.
On Thursday, Boeing released a statement about the controversy, saying, "The company is taking a closer look at R-74 and its impact on current policies and benefits once the law goes into effect in Washington state in December. We're studying how any change to our pension plan would impact our growing pension obligations, and we'll continue to discuss it with SPEEA."
Aphibal doesn't want to leave Boeing, but he said he would if he had to.
"I love my fiance more than I love this company, and that makes me very sad to say that if I had to pick I would have to walk away from this company should this benefit not go through," he said.
Boeing officials have said a federal mediator will meet with Boeing and SPEEA to work towards a contract agreement.
And this is EXACTLY what this movement has been about and is what I've been telling Schram every time he posted his views. It's not about civil rights which gays always had, and not about "feeling normal". It has always been about getting their hands on all kinds of benefits that those out of wedlock don't have. So get ready for even more strain to be put on the entitlement and benefits systems with the huge influx of new couples.
It's really not up to Boeing but rather the union as the contract was complete and binding. Next contract it'll have to be brought up so really he's either not real bright or looking for attention. Probably the latter.... Boeing doesn't have to do anything and if it affects the bottom line and employee compensation increases then it's a contract issue from my understanding.
And so it begins....
If Gay's don't like Boeing's policy then quit and find a job that is more gay friendly. Gay people are not special, they just think they are.
Now while I agree that Boeing should change the language they use in their pension and beneficiary plans My understanding is the way Boeing has their pension plan set up, an employee can name anybody the beneficiary.   The employee can name their kids, spouse, their brother's stepson's ex girlfriend. Heck, they can even name me as the beneficiary. So aren't they already covered???
Come on KOMO and the employee. Do some investigation.
Boeing employees enter thier beneficiaries and when doing so they enter how they are related (spouse, child...).  I don't know if the company has a computer script that compares if the person is of the same gender.  I do know that the spouse just needs to show documentation later, when recieving the benefit,  that the he/she is a spouse by showing a marriage license.
Boeing's insurance plan does cover domestic partnerships. Again, they just enter the data and show proper documentation when required.
Apparently some of you don't believe in the Declaration where it states, "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness".
The survivor benefits don't cover a domestic partnership?
The way the layoffs are coming down again and the way that the financial future of Boeing appears, I would be surprised if any employees even have a pension in the future, much less spousal benefits.
If a company is operating in the state, they should follow state protocal, laws, pay state taxes etc. Or get the hell out!
 @Jeff Valdez You might want to tell that to the dear leader. Unfortunately there are federal laws which govern such things (like smoking pot too) and Boeing is abiding by those federal laws.
 @dB  @Jeff Valdez But Boeing can always go beyond what the minimum that federal law requires. Federal law isn't the ceiling; it's the floor.
It's a real simple question. What's cheaper, offering the benefit to the employee's or not offering it. That is the only question the people in charge will be asking or care to hear the answer to.
perhaps the time has come for Boeing to leave WA. It does not seem able to keep up with the progressive nature of this state. We need businesses here that will embrace diversity and provide our residents with salaries and benefits that keep pace with other Americans.
 @jennieb Boeing's benefits and pay for their employees is very good! Plus, how do you know that they don't embrace diversity? Do you work there? I'd say you don't know a thing about this company. You better hope Boeing doesn't leave because a lot of jobs rely indirectly on that company. So be careful what you wish for.
 @jennieb That's completely unrealistic and short-sighted...not to mention ridiculous.
@Sovereign @jennieb    Corporations move and/or expand business in states depending on any number of factors to include but not limited to benefits, unions and pay. Some corporations go so far as to expand or relocate abroad. Businesses setting up here need to be prepared to embrace our lifestyles.
Like Walmart and Pic n Save?
That'll work out well for these people,
Boeing, I will not blame if you move ALL of your operations to another State. Then all the Union members can really cry when they have to move where you move. Or they can stay here find a job where the pensions are the same everywhere else. You are being driven away by unrealistic demands. I have some family members who are non union professionals. They are happy with their benefits except that there medical benefits continually cost them more when the unions are getting better medical benefits. Its the non union worker that is paying for the union members to have better benefits.  That's the way it is. So why don't SPEEA fight for the non union people for the same benefits. Yep, life is not fair.  Free medical after retirement is gone, so will pensions.Â
Puget Sound consumer price index was under 4% for 2012. SPEEA wants 6%, pensions for married gay partners.....Where does it end?  Bottom line bennys for union vs non union is not equal. You don't hear about that!
 @tmanch You're AGAINST pensions for MARRIED same-sex partners? Do you know how ridiculous, bigoted and reactionary you sound? Get with the times.
 @tmanch Crappy thing is, I saw this happen 20 years ago in Detroit. Workers here also spend their paychecks here. Boeing would take a whole system of Dr's, restruant owners, gas stations, shopping centers.....
@Xirxious You are correct, if Boeing decided to leave, its unreasonable demands that force them to leave. Boeing has to be competitive in pricing their product, but if wages, benefits etc make it where they have to price their product too high, then they lose their competitive edge. This is a For Profit company. Uniions killed Hostess and hurt 10,000's of other non union people. It will be a substantial hit to our local economy, but you cannot blame the company if its driven out.  Â
Don't worry, Seattle will let everyone know of any gay rights that have been left out..
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 @HullenbeckCowl crawl back to your cave
@HullenbeckCowl it will never end. The voiiciferous gays will not stop whining until all of us are gay or marching along side them. And even then the'll probably find something to complain about.
Ken, please leave Boeing. Someone else would love to take your job and one less of a problem for Boeing.
 @STK STK, please leave this comment board.
Right. That's like expecting Boeing to change it's drug-free workplace commitment just because WA has pseudo-legalized marijuana possession to some extent. Boeing Commercial A/P division dances to the beat of the federal drums, not WAs. Anybody that thinks Boeing should just "do the right thing" doesn't know Boeing very well.
 @johnbe Boeing can always go beyond what the minimum that federal law requires. Federal law isn't the ceiling; it's the floor.
See above.
@johnbe It's not Boeing's choice in the matter, they operate under FAA and Federal DOT regulations. Its just like my company, even if it is legalized my job falls under FAA/DOT regulations. Until the Federal Government legalizes it and the FAA/DOT decide to remove it from their banned substances, the restriction still applies.
 @SilverGryphon  @johnbe Boeing can always go beyond what the minimum that federal law requires. Federal law, in this instance, isn't the ceiling; it's the floor.
 @johnbe There're other companies that DO go above and beyond in providing that. Why shouldn't Boeing lead the way -- along with the others who already do, such as Microsoft and Nordstrom -- in the way it provides benefits for employees rather than be staid?
True, but what is it that Boeing should be doing more of?
Yeah I know that. Worked there for 22 years, always trying to be ready for the FAA whose scrutiny was endless, always trying to do everything per procedure and always ready to produce what authority I used to do my job. The only other place I knew that was as much a stickler for processes and procedures was the US Army in my earlier days.
@johnbe  I would not want to be flying on an airplane if I knew that Boeing allowed their employees to come to work high on marijuana.Â
 @agatha Good thing you don't see where your car was built, food was packaged or house built....
People at Boeing go out for lunch all the time and drink. Then, they come back to work and build airplanes. Yeah, you know that, but I'll bet that doesn't keep you from flying. I don't advocate being high or drunk on any company's time and my point is that Boeing's rules and regulations are driven by the federal, not state government. They don't just do "the right thing".
Some do? Those are the ones I referred to...not the majority, and goodness gracious no, never the ones in the factory.
 @agatha The people building planes don't have time to go out to lunch! They only get a certain amount of time, and with parking so bad it would take their entire lunch hour just walking to and from their cars. Going out and drinking at lunch is against company policy. I'm sure some do, but you can bet the vast majority do not - and certainly not the ones in the factory.
I had no idea that the employees go out and drink on their lunch hour. That makes me sick.
There's always something being imposed on someone that is just plain unfair. Life isn't always fair. If you haven't learned that by the time you finish grade school and now you are an adult maybe it's just time to grow up and face the realities of the real world you live in.
@Jatok Your statement falls back on to what our education system is doing to our kids. No one is a loser, every one wins. Outcome based education, mainstreaming, no child left behind, whatever you want to call it. The results are the same, kids are unprepared for the real world.
Can't have it both was. He say's in reality, "life isn't fair", and you say the kids are being taught "every one wins". The former is a true answer to the false claim of the latter.
Just get rid of the outdated pension plans and give them a 401K like everyone else. Â Problem solved.
I think this guy mistakenly believes Boeing cares about ANY of its employees
 @jowsuf Employee's are Boeing's most expendable resource.
This guy is full of crap. I used to work for Boeing and as much as I despise the company I will say they have excellent and equal benefits for everyone regardless of sexual orientation. There was an employee that wanted a sex change operation and Boeing paid for it. That was several years before this law passed.
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I still have all the information on benefits that I received while I worked there. I left 2 years ago and every piece of benefits info I have gives equal rights to everyone. They even recognize domestic partners as a civil union like marriage.Â
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I despise Boeing, but I will give credit where credit is due. Boeing has been very progressive in equality. This guy has other issues, most likely greed motivated.Â
 @seattleemt If that is the case I don't understand why they wouldn't cover same sex couples who are already in a domestic partnership right now and are already covered currently . ..baffled. Also, if these people were "converted" and married someone of the opposite sex, Boeing would have to cove them too. EIther this person is just trying to make Boeing look bad or Boeing is intentionally being more discriminatory than their current policy.
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 @Wildstar That's not what the word discrimination means.
 @jowsuf  @Wildstar You're right, that's what Socialism means. Don't we fight to get it out of other countries?
 @Xirxious  @Wildstar That's not what the word socialism means.
 @jowsuf Well maybe it should, because it is the same thing.