Tue, Jun 16, 2009
Union Solidly Rejects Three-Year Contract
Local 218 of The United Auto Workers, the union representing
manufacturing workers at Bell Helicopter in Hurst, Texas, rejected
the company's last, best offer for a three-year contract and went
on strike at midnight Sunday.
The union had two major problems with the contract, according to
the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. One was a higher percentage of health
care premiums to be paid by the workers, and the other was
outsourcing janitorial jobs currently done by union members.
In a statement e-mail to the paper, Bell spokesman Tom Dolney
said the company is "extremely disappointed" that the Union had
voted down the contract. "We bargained in good faith and presented
a fair and equitable contract to the union that was extremely
beneficial to its members," Dolney said. "Bell and UAW Local 218
have a history dating back to the early 1950s of cooperation and
mutual respect, and the company is determined to keep the
negotiations process continuing until a satisfactory solution is
reached."
The union represents workers employed at Bell's Tarrent County,
Texas manufacturing plants near Fort Worth, where parts and
assemblies for civilian helicopters, as well as the V-22 Osprey and
H-1 military helicopters are made. The company also has facilities
in Amarillo, Texas and Mirabel, Canada, which are not covered by
the contract.
The Star Telegram reports that a cover letter attached to the
offer showed a pay increase of over 18 percent over the life of the
three-year deal, but union members were most upset over the loss of
44 union janitorial jobs. Bell says those employees would have been
absorbed into mostly higher-paying positions, but union members
said it would be very difficult to "vote someone out of a job. Our
fear is, where will that stop."
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