Cessna and HBC Contract Negotiations

[SB Shock]

Contract negotiations have started at Cessna where there contract will end Sept 19.

HBC has opened up their contract for negotiations a year ahead of time so they can make a decision on whether to move all or parts of the operation to Mexico and SE U.S.A (Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama rumored).

First contract offer from Cessna is out

http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2010/08/30/daily36.html

1. 4.2% DECREASE in pay
2. consumer driven health care with 30% cost sharing
3. Elimination of Pension plan

[InWuWeTrust]

word is, that cessna is wanting out of wichita..

selling the pawnee plant to spirit
closing the west plant
keeping the service center here

better take something close to the company's offer... id rather have all of something than all of nothing.

[SB Shock]

Cessna final contract came out. Union has recommended that the contract be rejected and members should strike.

Key points of the contract.

1. Union health care plan be scrapped and will have same health care plan as the rest of the company.

2. 10 year contract with wages remaining flat for this period but with cost of living raises. There are a couple minor increases and lump sum bonuses.

3. Ability for wage increases to be relooked at a later time in contract. But this would be no -strikable.

4. Company yearly bonus plan based on company performance.

5. Pension plan remained intact. (cessna wanted to scrap).

it was not a good offer but then again it wasn't a terrible when considering the times we are living in and the state of general aviation which is looking very bleak right now.

[SubGod22]

Considering the current economic climate I'm not sure there's a lot to complain about with the offer. But considering how much I distrust unions there's no way in hell they'd accept it. They're more important than the company and if they drive the company out of business they don't really care as long as they get what they "deserve" until then.

[WuDrWu]

Cessna final contract came out. Union has recommended that the contract be rejected and members should strike.

Key points of the contract.

1. Union health care plan be scrapped and will have same health care plan as the rest of the company.

2. 10 year contract with wages remaining flat for this period but with cost of living raises. There are a couple minor increases and lump sum bonuses.

3. Ability for wage increases to be relooked at a later time in contract. But this would be no -strikable.

4. Company yearly bonus plan based on company performance.

5. Pension plan remained intact. (cessna wanted to scrap).

it was not a good offer but then again it wasn't a terrible when considering the times we are living in and the state of general aviation which is looking very bleak right now.

Good point and let's take a little deeper look and see who benefits:

1. Bad for the union. In some ways I blame the company for agreeing to such an insanely ridiculous health care plan in the first place. I also find it tragically ironic that most of the union folks would have voted for Obama. They are going to from a health plan that rivals Congress with almost no out of pocket expense, to a government run system that will cost them FAR more, and provide FAR worse care. Way to go folks.

2, 3 & 4. Say what you want, but this is not in either party's favor. Cessna would love to cut wages to a reasonable number, but instead there is going to be a cola adjustment, protecting from inflation, what would amount to at least a 3-5% bonus next year and a 1-2% bonus the next and the chance to look at wages again in 4 years. Workers will not make less than they do today. I don't have that promise.

5. Pension stays and gets monthly increases. Sounds good for the union.


That a non handicapped person thinks that is reason to strike tells you all you need to know about unions. They could use some assistance from ACORN to make better decisions.

[SB Shock]

Brothers and Sisters,
We must report to you that our negotiations with Cessna were not successful. Your Negotiating Committee has
worked to give the company the flexibility they requested for today’s environment, while protecting the membership
of this union, their employees. We have worked hard to come to an agreement that was good for both sides.

Our International President, Tom Buffenbarger, called for bold steps in negotiations. Cessna did nothing to find
new ways to do business in partnership with their workers, but instead decided to find cost savings only by takeaways
from their employee’s pockets.

Cessna’s contract offer works to destroy the protections and earning ability of their employees. The contract is
a seven-year contract that provides no job security for our membership, and eliminates our traditional health care
plans, replacing it with UHC (Definity’s cousin). This means massive new costs to our membership, both in
premiums and out-of-pocket expenses.


For the first four years of the contract, there will be no wage increases for anyone. Then for some employees,
there will be meager 1% wage increases in year 5, 6 and 7. For over 600 employees, there will be no wage increases
for the entire 7-year contract.
Instead of asking for short-term sacrifice to help weather the economic downturn, Cessna demanded permanent
cuts for the entire seven years with no hope of improvement, even if the economy improved.


It is very important for you to understand what is in this contract. Cessna has put some things in the contract
that may sound good at first, but the reality is far different. They will work hard to convince you this is a good
contract, just like they’ve tried to tell you for years how good Definity insurance is.


Our Negotiating Committee will be on the floor this week explaining the contract and answering questions.
Cessna is planning to try to sell you on this contract. Remember, your Supervisor works for Cessna and is going to
say what they are told to say. Look to the Union for the facts.
Brothers and Sisters, this is a very tough time in the history of our Local Lodge. We all want a good contract
that preserves jobs in Wichita. However, to do so, we will have to fight to get that contract.


Attached is a summary of the contract offer. Our website, LL774.blogspot.org will have the entire contract
offer posted.
Your Negotiating Committee is unanimous in recommending that you vote to REJECT the contract offer
and vote to STRIKE.
In Solidarity
Your Negotiating Committee

What is really interesting is they don't even talk about their opportunity to receive performance bonus bonus of up to 2%-4% of their wages - if the company is actually performing.

[SB Shock]

Cessna final contract came out. Union has recommended that the contract be rejected and members should strike.

Key points of the contract.

1. Union health care plan be scrapped and will have same health care plan as the rest of the company.

2. 10 year contract with wages remaining flat for this period but with cost of living raises. There are a couple minor increases and lump sum bonuses.

3. Ability for wage increases to be relooked at a later time in contract. But this would be no -strikable.

4. Company yearly bonus plan based on company performance.

5. Pension plan remained intact. (cessna wanted to scrap).

it was not a good offer but then again it wasn't a terrible when considering the times we are living in and the state of general aviation which is looking very bleak right now.

Good point and let's take a little deeper look and see who benefits:

1. Bad for the union. In some ways I blame the company for agreeing to such an insanely ridiculous health care plan in the first place. I also find it tragically ironic that most of the union folks would have voted for Obama. They are going to from a health plan that rivals Congress with almost no out of pocket expense, to a government run system that will cost them FAR more, and provide FAR worse care. Way to go folks.

2, 3 & 4. Say what you want, but this is not in either party's favor. Cessna would love to cut wages to a reasonable number, but instead there is going to be a cola adjustment, protecting from inflation, what would amount to at least a 3-5% bonus next year and a 1-2% bonus the next and the chance to look at wages again in 4 years. Workers will not make less than they do today. I don't have that promise.

5. Pension stays and gets monthly increases. Sounds good for the union.


That a non handicapped person thinks that is reason to strike tells you all you need to know about unions. They could use some assistance from ACORN to make better decisions.

The Cessna and HBC unions are about to find out there are plenty of people in the U.S. and outside the U.S. who want to work. If they strike, they are going to make it all a self-fulfilling prophecy and the jobs they claim to be trying to secure will be gone.

[martymoose]

What idiots....

[SB Shock]

2. 10 year contract with wages remaining flat for this period but with cost of living raises. There are a couple minor increases and lump sum bonuses.

I made a mistake - it is a 7 year contract.

[WuDrWu]

God forbid raises come from performance and outcome instead of tenure.


I wonder where that way of thinking emanates .....hmmmm.........government perhaps????

[WstateU]

What idiots....

They would enjoy this game:

http://www.addictinggames.com/theidiottest.html

[wu_shizzle]

Brothers and Sisters,
We must report to you that our negotiations with Cessna were not successful. Your Negotiating Committee has
worked to give the company the flexibility they requested for today’s environment, while protecting the membership
of this union, their employees. We have worked hard to come to an agreement that was good for both sides.

Our International President, Tom Buffenbarger, called for bold steps in negotiations. Cessna did nothing to find
new ways to do business in partnership with their workers, but instead decided to find cost savings only by takeaways
from their employee’s pockets.

I stopped reading after that bold-faced lie.

[SHOCKvalue]

I think there is a reasonably realistic likelihood the City of Wichita is about to start a downward spiral. You lose HBC, and potentially Cessna, compounded with our current weak, stagnant local economy, and the gross effect on this community will be staggering. The trickle down will be huge.

We may be one of the stark few metro areas in this entire country that will see population receding, rather than growing, in the future.

[pogo]

There was an article in the Eagle last week that talked about how some of the southern states ie Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi have received millions in federal funds to stimulate economic growth after their natural disasters. Obviously these are the same funds that are being used as incentives for business' like Cessna to relocate. So basicly our taxes are being used to lure jobs in Wichita away to other locations. This sucks on several levels. I can only assume that Cessna took perhaps a little stronger line in negotiations than they would normally have taken since it looks like something better is waiting in the wings to fill their dance card. The Unions just can't see the forest for the trees. Instead of calling for the membership to reject the offer out of hand they should be willing to cut their union membership dues to show their empathy for their plight. Yeah like that would happen in a million years. This is not going to work out well for the union faithful if they do decide to strike. I would rather have a job working for the same amount (taking into the cola) for the forseeable future than not have a job because I listened to someone else telling me I was not getting my fair share.

[WuDrWu]

In today's world, there is plenty of room for rabid talks between management and the rank and file. Talk, yell, scream, get it out. Work out a deal.


In 2010, in these United States, there is no sane person that can possibly rationalize striking.

40-100 years ago, I'll concede the point. Striking today only goes to prove how utterly stupid these people are.


The rest of Wichita is watching.....as someone said earlier, the fate of our great city is tenuous at best now.