Boeing IAM members not eligible for WA PFML - only short-term disability?

You're correct. Boeing IAM members are exempt from WA PFML because the union negotiated its own short-term disability benefit package instead. This was allowed under the state law which permits unions with collective bargaining agreements to opt out if they provide comparable benefits. The IAM disability plan covers similar situations but has different benefit calculations and requirements than the state program.

Yep, it's one of those weird exceptions in the law. I found this out the hard way when I tried to apply for PFML last year while working at Boeing under IAM. The ESD website actually rejected my application and mentioned the union exemption specifically. The IAM disability plan is ok for medical stuff but honestly not as good for family leave compared to the state program IMO.

As an IAM member at Boeing for 12 years, I can tell you that our short-term disability through the union covers 60% of your base pay for up to 26 weeks for your own medical conditions. The family leave portion is where it's lacking compared to state PFML - you only get up to 5 days paid for birth or adoption through the IAM contract. State PFML would give 12 weeks for that. It's one of the trade-offs with our contract - better pay and certain benefits, but definitely worse on the family leave side.

This actually came up in our last contract negotiation. The IAM disability plan predates the state PFML program by decades. When WA created PFML in 2019, the law allowed existing CBA disability plans to be exempted. The Boeing contract wasn't specifically modified to opt out - it was grandfathered in as an exemption. I remember some talk about incorporating PFML in the next contract negotiation cycle, but I'm not holding my breath.

THIS IS WHY I HATE THESE SYSTEMS!!! The state says everyone gets this benefit but then there's always fine print exceptions. Boeing workers pay the same taxes but get less benefits!!! And then when you try calling ESD to explain your situation, you can't even get through!!

To answer your earlier question - IAM leadership negotiated this as part of the overall compensation package. It wasn't voted on as a separate item. The disability plan IS better for certain things - like it kicks in faster than PFML for medical leave and has fewer hoops to jump through for approval. But yeah, the parental leave portion is definitely lacking compared to state PFML.

If anyone needs to call ESD about PFML or other benefits questions, I recently found a service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to an ESD agent without the endless waiting. Saved me hours of frustration when I had questions about my benefits after leaving Boeing. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3

Thank you all for the helpful information! It's disappointing about the family leave portion being so limited, but at least I understand the situation better now. Guess I'll need to adjust my plans and save up more PTO for when the baby comes.

My cousins worked at Boeing and he had some issue with his back and couldn't work for like 3 months. He said the IAM disability was actually pretty decent for that. Got checks pretty quickly without much hassle. But yeah the family stuff is bad. Good luck with the baby!

As someone who went through this same situation when I started at Boeing IAM two years ago, I totally get your frustration! The family leave benefits are definitely the weak spot compared to state PFML. One thing that might help - you can potentially supplement the 5 days paid parental leave with vacation time and unpaid FMLA if you qualify. Also, if your partner works somewhere with state PFML coverage, they can take the full 12 weeks for bonding leave. It's not ideal having to navigate different systems, but there are ways to make it work. Congrats on the upcoming baby!