Textron union workers back on the picket line Tuesday
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Union workers at Textron Aviation are back on the picket line Tuesday morning. They’re not going back to work until Textron Aviation meets their demands for a new contract.
Tuesday marks Day 2 of the strike for union workers at the company. Workers voted to reject the company’s contract offer and to go on strike.
It’s not clear when the two sides will meet to resume contract negotiations, and the union tells us its 5,000 members will stay on the picket line until their demands are met. Workers say they want better pay, healthcare and job security.
They rejected a contract that include a 26 percent wage increase over four years, a 9 percent 401k match and other benefits.
One union leader said Textron misrepresented what’s in the proposed contract, making it sound better than it actually is, and that the company isn’t treating its separate divisions fairly.
“Numbers got changed to make things look good when they really (weren’t), especially when you get to talking about (health savings accounts) and insurance. And we’ll never be equally fair if you give a retirement to your westside workers, which are originally Cessna, and you don’t give one to your eastside workers, which is Hawker-Beech.
“We just want what they told us they wanted us to have when they took us on. That’s all.”
We reached out for word on how significantly production will be affected, but we haven’t heard back yet. Textron Aviation said it has prepared for this scenario to ensure business stays in operation. But economic experts say the longer the strike lasts, the more it could heart the company financially.
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