Union says Boeing is harassing members

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SEATTLE, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- An engineering union said it had filed complaints against U.S. industrial giant Boeing for harassing union members at legitimate union events.

The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace said union members had reported the company videotaped union events, but then confiscated cameras belonging to union members and deleted their photographs.

The alleged harassment occurred at SPEEA solidarity rallies in Everett, Wash., and Portland, Ore., Seattlepi.com reported Tuesday.

"Taking video of employees on a lunchtime march is nothing more than intimidation and harassment. The company has no legitimate reason to confiscate cameras and delete photos," said SPEEA Executive Director Ray Goforth said in statement.

Boeing spokesman Doug Alders also said, "We haven't been served with the complaint so we aren't able to comment" about the allegations.

Boeing and the union are in the middle of bitter contract negotiations.

Union engineers last rejected a contract proposal with 95.5 percent of votes cast against the deal. Technical employees voting on the deal were even more negative with 97 percent voting no, Seattlepi.com reported.