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Spirit AeroSystems and its professional and technical union officials are in discussions about heading back to the bargaining table.
Wednesday was the first time Spirit and union officials have talked since members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace rejected Spirit's 9 1/2-year contract offer July 28. Members rejected the offer by 96 percent.
The union represents about 2,300 employees in the Wichita bargaining unit.
"We're having discussions about what the next step might be," SPEEA Midwest director Bob Brewer said.
There are no details to release at this time, however, Brewer said.
"We're talking a little bit about everything — if we go back, what's it look like — and everything we've got to do as we prepare to go back to the table," Brewer said.
The fact that there are discussions is a positive step, he said.
"That's the bottom line," Brewer said. "We haven't had discussions since the vote."
On Wednesday, Brewer said he called the company to request a meeting.
Spirit spokeswoman Lisa Conklin released a statement on the discussions.
"We've had preliminary discussions with Bob Brewer about whether it would be fruitful to resume talks, but no date has been set at this point," Conklin said in an e-mail. "Spirit has always been willing to listen in good faith to any proposal the union makes."
The company said after the vote that it was unprepared for the results and needed time to step back to re-evaluate.
SPEEA members said they rejected Spirit's contract offer because it capped salary pools, offered no wage guarantees, no cost-of-living increases and included a lower bonus plan than that for other salaried officials.
It also increased health insurance costs from 10 percent of the cost to 20 percent by the end of the contract. Many also opposed the contract's long length.
