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WORKERS BLOG TO SEE "THE REST OF THE STORY"

Hawker stance upsets Machinists

BY MOLLY MCMILLIN

The Wichita Eagle

The Machinists union says Hawker Beechcraft is making "unlawful threats" to new workers who might walk off the job in the event of a strike.
Employees who have not completed their probationary period would be subject to termination or other disciplinary action, the company said on its Web site.
The union and Hawker Beechcraft are in negotiations for a labor contract. Workers will vote on the company's offer Aug. 2. Should they reject it and vote to strike, work stoppage would begin Aug. 4.
New hires have a probation period of 75 calendar days after joining the company, the union said.
Hawker Beechcraft spokesman Andrew Broom said the company stands by its position, "which is in total compliance with the law."
But the union says Hawker Beechcraft's stance violates the National Labor Relations Act.
"We will be addressing this," said Machinists union spokesman Bob Wood.
The union has several options, Wood said, including filing charges with the National Labor Relations Board. An NLRB spokesman would not comment Monday.
Wood said the union has heard from some of the employees who are on probation.
"They're scared," he said.
Wood said the right to strike is a protected activity.
"They cannot differentiate against one group like that," he said.
Gary Chaison, professor of industrial relations at Clark University in Worcester, Mass., said the company's statement "creates a confrontational environment."
"I think we're heading into a very messy situation," Chaison said.
Hawker Beechcraft's statement about probationary workers revises one from last week that said in the event of a strike, employees who don't come to work and complete their probationary period "will be considered to have abandoned their job and quit."

Both statements violate the law, Wood said.

Negotiating Committee Update 7-23-08

Today is July 23rd, yesterday we handed our counter proposal to the Company on Medical. We are still awaiting their proposals on the rest of the economics to include hours of work, retirement and wages.

For the Company to be competitive in today’s market they are going to have to increase wages substantially, raise retirement by at least $11.00 a month the 1st year, and get our medical premiums and coverage to where their competitors are.

Let your managers know this is what you want and that you support your negotiating committee.

Posted by Your Negotiating Committee at 9:22 AM

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Negotiating Committee Update 7-22-08

Today is July 22nd and the committee met with the Company on medical insurance. The Company is proposing only one carrier (BC/BS) with increases in premiums on medical that go to 15% for the 1st yr, 17% for the 2nd yr and 19% for the 3rd yr for employees cost on medical premiums for each year of the contract and 50% of employee cost of premiums on vision and dental with no increase of benefit coverage.

The Company stated that the employees have had no problems or complaints about our current insurance benefits. You told your committee this is a very important issue to you and now you need to let your managers know this is unacceptable.

Hawker Beechcraft continues to scream about the need for “flexibility” in negotiations with the union.
However, in negotiations Wednesday, when talking about a section of an IAM proposal, Chief Negotiator Dan Dimarkouski said “Because of the company doing our payroll, we have very little flexibility in how we handle payroll.”
Think about that statement for a minute. When Beechcraft employees ran payroll, they had all the flexibility in the world… AND when we got our paychecks, they were correct. If flexibility was so important to them, why did they get rid of the payroll department and outsource it?
Bottom line – when they talk about flexibility, they are actually talking about the flexibility to outsource. Don’t be fooled!

UPCOMING SALINA EVENTS

RALLIES

MONDAY 11:30 BUILDING 655 AND 626 - - - - SEE YOUR STEWARD FOR LOCATION

TUESDAY 11:30 BUILDING 614 713 AND 723 - - - - NORTH OF B-614

WEDNESDAY 11:30 BUILDING 959 - - - - - - SOUTH PARKING LOT

NEWS FROM THE TRENCHES
UPDATES FROM THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE

Friday, July 18, 2008

July 18 Update

Today Is July 18th, yesterday we presented our proposal on EBS to the Company. Employee Benefits Sytems is a supplemental insurance that covers long-term disability, cancer insurance, additional life insurance, accidental insurance and critical illness insurance.

We are still awaiting the company’s response to our hours of work as well as our economic packages. Continue to show your support to the Negotiating Committee and let this Company know you expect a fair and equitable contract.

EVER WONDER WHY BOEING WORKERS GET MORE MONEY THAN YOU DO???

AT OUR LAST UNION MEETING THERE WERE LESS THAN 5% OF THE MEMBERSHIP IN ATTENDANCE

Boeing machinists rally in midst of contract negotiations

IF WE HAVE A RALLY WE WILL BE LUCKY TO GET 10%

THE NEGOTIATORS CAN’T DO IT FOR US IF WE DON’T TELL THE COMPANY WE SUPPORT THEM. 100%

YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE BLOWING WHISTLES BUT IT TELLS THE MANAGEMENT WE ARE TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY, IT DOES MATTER

YOUR FUTURE IS PLANNED NOW, SUPPORT THE PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR IT.

Pictured above is your negotiating team. Front row left to right is Shaun Junkins, Steve Rooney and Rita Rogers. Second row is Bob Wood, Marcus German and Steve Groom. Behind Steve Groom is Sam Humble and Pat Maxey. Back row is Ron Eldridge, Don Barker and Craig Dutton.

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