Monthly Publication
September 2019
ILCA
LABOR MEDIA
AWARD
WINNER
Lessons learned from non-union jobs
Engineer values the
union difference
By Karen McLean
SPEEA Publications Editor
AUBURN, Wash. – Paul Bowman, a process engineer, learned about the benefits of a union the hard way at his first engineering
job after college. Multiple bad experiences would
have been avoided if he had a union contract, a
lesson he learned after coming to Boeing nearly
34 years ago.
“I learned a ‘promise’ between a company and
an individual doesn’t mean much. I was enticed
to join CBI (Chicago Bridge and Iron) because
of the excellent benefits, profit sharing, location
and raises every six months. Eight months later,
everything changed but the location. I started
making $23,600, which was $2,000 less than my
other offers, and got a $600 raise at the six-month
mark. Two months later, I got an $800 pay cut by
having to start paying for medical, with no raises
in sight since we went on a wage freeze. The history
of no layoffs was also a factor since it sounded like
a stable company, but I found out that things can
change very quickly.”
He wanted to share his pre-Boeing work story with
his group when he became a SPEEA Council Rep
in 1997. As an Area Rep, he continues to share his
story in seven weekly installments to newer hires in
his area, including Hunter Jacobson, who started
at Boeing about a year ago.
“He sent it out when we first started,” said
Jacobson, who works with Bowman, his assigned
peer mentor. “It was interesting to hear how Paul
came to Boeing. I certainly didn’t have the same
path as Paul did.”
Jacobson, also a process engineer, worked at
another company prior to Boeing, where his
father also works as a manager. Jacobson didn’t
have a negative experience there, but he didn’t get
paid overtime. “That was nice to see the union
difference,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson recently stepped up to become an Area
Continued on page 2
Area Reps Paul Bowman, left, and Hunter Jacobson, are process engineers at Boeing in Auburn. They help their Council Reps, Gail Soushek
and Kevin Mjor, by connecting with a smaller group of members in the
Council district with SPEEA news and updates. Jacobson recently signed
up to become an Area Rep. Bowman served in the role since 2001.
