DON'T FORGET THE MEETING EVERY SATURDAY --- 10:00 A.M.
SALINA LABOR BUILDING AT 2055 SOUTH OHIO STREET
Hawker and Cessna Workers Face Tough
Negotiations
(IAM Aug 24) All eyes
in the aviation community were on Wichita, KS last week, where IAM leaders
gathered to open a pair of negotiations that could determine if that city
continues to be known as the Air Capital of the World.
IAM President Tom Buffenbarger met with top representatives
of Cessna Aircraft and Hawker Beechcraft as the industry continues to
struggle with a market for business jets that collapsed in the wake of the
2008 credit crisis.
"The demand for aircraft will return and this industry will
eventually recover," predicted Buffenbarger. "The key question is how much
of it will still be here in Wichita when it does. It is critical that we do
not allow our long-term goals to be compromised by short-term thinking."
The IAM represents approximately 2,500 workers at Cessna,
where the contract expires in September. The IAM contract with Hawker
Beechcraft, which covers about 2,400 workers, does not expire for another
twelve months, but the company has requested earlier negotiations. The state
of Louisiana has offered Hawker Beechcraft millions of dollars to relocate
their factory.
Buffenbarger was sharply critical of states using federal
stimulus money to attract employers from states like Kansas, rather than
create new jobs.
"All we are doing is shifting resources, we are not creating
new resources," said Buffenbarger in an Associated Press
article. "The way I viewed stimulus funds and
government policy was to expand jobs, make more opportunities - not just
move them from point A to point B."
Joining Buffenbarger at the bargaining table were
representatives of negotiating committees for Locals 774 and 733, who
represent workers at Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft, respectively. Also at the
table were IAM Headquarters GVP Rich Michalski, Southern Territory GVP Bob
Martinez, as well as Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge, District 70
President Steve Rooney and others.
"We're all here to bring as much experience as possible to
these negotiations," said GVP Martinez. "The task of saving jobs under these
circumstances isn't easy, but we have the will and we have the resources. We
also have thousands of highly-skilled members who deserve nothing less than
our very best efforts."
Holland, Goyle to Highlight Wichita Labor Day Event on Sept
4
Tom Holland, candidate for Governor, and Raj Goyle,
candidate for the U.S. House for the Fourth District are featured speakers
at the 2010 Wichita Labor Day picnic on Saturday September 4. The picnic
will be held at the IAM Hall, 3830 S. Meridian from noon to 4 p.m. Holland
and Goyle are both dynamic and exciting speakers with strong records of
support for working families. But don't worry, they know how to keep it
short. There will be plenty of time for food, fun, and bingo.
LATEST FLYER
(PLEASE READ SETTING DOWN)
KAKE NEWS
REPORTS
Friday, August
13, 2010
Leaders of the
International Association of
Machinists and
Aerospace Workers told members Friday the union will
reopen negotiations with Hawker Beechcraft Corp.
next week.
The union told members the
two sides had been talking for several weeks about
reopening contract talks. Negotiations are scheduled
to begin Thursday.
The notice from the
negotiating committee says not reopening
negotiations with Hawker “would be grim, drastically
affecting the employment levels and the future of
Wichita operations.”
Hawker CEO Bill Boisture
says the company is considering U.S. locations and
some outside the country to relocate some work.
Rich Jiwanlal, Hawker’s
vice president of human resources, says reports that
the company will eliminate 50-75 percent of its
Wichita work force in the next two years are not
true.
The work force reduction
claim came from District 70 Machinists’ Union
President Steven Rooney, after talks with the
company.
If the union presents a
contract for its rank and file to vote on, it will
be a straight up or down vote. The negotiating
committee says no strike vote will be taken, and
they cannot strike on the proposal.
KAKE NEWS
PAST FLYERS
NEED TO READ FLYERS
ARTICLE FROM MAY "PLAINDEALER"
(see link at bottom )
Better Benefits Available for
U.S. Veterans www.goIAM.org April 13, 2010
Thousands of U.S. military veterans who served on active duty
between January 1957 and January 31, 2001, are eligible for higher
Social Security benefits based on pay they received during that time
period.
Under certain circumstances, up to $1,200 per year of earnings credit
can be added to a veteran’s lifetime earnings for Social Security
purposes. These extra earnings can make a substantial difference in a
retiree’s monthly Social Security benefit.
In order to be credited for the extra earnings that can translate into
increased benefits, veterans who are preparing for retirement should
bring their DD-214 to the Social Security office to ensure they receive
credit for their military pay.
The program that provides for increased Social Security benefits was
terminated in 2001, and there are no special extra earnings credits for
military service after that time. Visit: http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/military.
htm#2002 for more information about the program and benefits.
Additionally, armed service members who have been medically
separated since September 11, 2001 will have the opportunity to have
their disability ratings reviewed to ensure fairness and accuracy.
Only a fraction of wounded veterans who could be getting better
benefi ts have applied for the review in the two years since Congress
ordered the Pentagon to review veteran’s disputed disability claims.
According to an Associated Press article, only 921 of 77,000 eligible
veterans have applied for a review by the Physical Disability Board
of Review. Of those cases, about 60 percent were decided in favor of
improving the veteran’s benefits, while an additional 119 cases were
dismissed as ineligible.
Visit: www.health.mil/About_MHS/Organizations/MHS_Offi ces_
and_Programs/PDBR.aspx for more information about the new
Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR).
PlainDealer
MAY 2010
COBRA INSURANCE
IF YOU ARE LAID OFF THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE 65% OF YOUR COBRA INSURANCE
PAYMENT FOR 9 MONTHS. THE WAY IT WORKS IS THEY WILL PAY COBRA AND YOU MUST
PAY THE COMPANY BACK 35%. IF YOU ARE LATE OR MISS A PAYMENT THE COMPANY CAN
TERMINATE THE INSURANCE IMMEDIATELY
