Tue, Feb 28, 2006
Company Continues Production At Reduced Rates
Sikorsky Aircraft
officials met with union representatives on Monday, for the first
time since thousands of workers walked out of
plants in Connecticut and Florida one week ago.
The strike has been the elephant in the room around the Sikorsky
display at this year's Heli-Expo, currently underway in Dallas.
While company officials have been eager to laud recent sales, as
well as spotlight the vital role the company's helicopters played
in hurricane relief efforts last year, they have been mum about
strike -- and the effects the loss of over 3,600 workers has had on
production.
The Associated Press reports there was nothing especially
significant about Monday's meeting -- except that it occured
in the first place.
"Sikorsky and the union did have initial contact with each other
to explore what opportunities there are to resume negotiations,"
said company spokesman Bud Grebey. "We'll need some further
evaluation of that contact today to see if an opportunity presents
itself to get back to the table."
Teamsters Local 1150 president Harvey Jackson said both parties
agreed to meet later in the week.
"I think both sides were very careful not to get into any
particulars," Jackson said. "The good news is we are having a
dialogue. We don't appear to be at an impasse."
Meanwhile, the strike entered its second week Tuesday -- and
while Sikorsky continues to operate three shifts,
seven-days-per-week with salaried employees, spokesman Edward
Steadham indicated it was barely enough.
"We're not operating at full production at this point," Grebey
said. "We are meeting commitments to the customers."
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