Fri, Oct 08, 2010
Governor Doesn't Want Details Released Before Union Vote
Details of the deal announced this week by Kansas Governor Mark
Parkinson (D) that he says will keep Hawker Beechcraft in Wichita
are being very closely held until the company's machinists' union
has an opportunity to vote on a new contract October 16. Talks
between HBC and the union had stalled when it became known that
Louisiana was trying to lure HBC into a move south.
Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson
According to the governor's office, the deal includes tax
incentives for the company, as well as the possibility of some
training dollars for employees, but there are still "a lot of
details to be finalized," said Amy Jordan Wooden, a spokesperson
for Governor Parkinson.
She said that if details were released, it would allow Louisiana
officials to come up with a new offer and stall contract
negotiations again. Talks were set to resume Friday after breaking
off last weekend.
The Associated Press reports that the deal is said to be
"similar" to one offered by Kansas to Bombardier Aerospace. The
state authorized $27 million in bonds for the planemaker to expand.
The bonds will be repaid by diverting moneys normally collected
from employees for income taxes. A state law encouraging aviation
companies to expand makes that diversion possible.
Parkinson said the deal would keep "most" of HBC's jobs in
Wichita, but he could not guarantee that no jobs would leave the
state. Hawker Beechcraft still employs about 6,000 workers in
Wichita.
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