Tue, Jul 05, 2005
Bird In The Hand?
At Mid-Western Aircraft
Systems in Wichita, workers represented by Society of Professional
Engineering Employees in Aerospace will vote Wednesday to accept or
reject the company's offers. Results will be announced on July
11th.
This comes shortly after the Machinists overwhelmingly accepted
their new offer. They weren't necessarily happy about it, but many
expressing a desire to get back to work.
A four-year contract for about 600 engineers would lock in a
13.5 percent wage increase over three years. A six year contract
for 1,800 technical and professional workers guarantees a 17.5
percent wage increase over five years. The offers will take away
some benefits, and increase medical premiums.
SPEEA received the offers from Onex Corporation negotiators on
Tuesday and secured minor changes to the offer Tuesday evening.
Onex has been negotiating with unions at the plant for several
months. The company finalized purchase and took over operations of
the Wichita Commercial Division of The Boeing Company earlier this
month.
"It's up to the members to decide," said Bob Brewer, SPEEA
Midwest director. "There are some good things in these contracts,
but the teams cannot recommend contracts that have benefit
takeaways."
At a special meeting Thursday, the technical and professional
unit's council recommended to accept the offer. The engineer unit's
council issued no recommendation.
The contract offers avoids wage cuts suffered by some employees.
The union also secured a retiree medical plan that provides
coverage at age 62 and a bereavement benefit for represented
employees.
A number of the improvements are being extended by Mid-Western
to other employees.
"Having a union helped all employee groups," said Charles
Bofferding, SPEEA executive director. "Without the union
non-represented employees would not receive many of these
improvements."
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