From Your Negotiating Committee

The company dropped their Last, Best and Final on us this morning and immediately went to the shop floor with it. Understand it takes some time for us to put a full explanation together, while the company had all day yesterday to put as much perfume on it as they could. We are working on a full explanation, but here’s the main lowlights:

Ratification Bonus: $3,000 sounds great, but about a third of it will go to taxes! We asked for REAL raises, that pays off year after year, and would move your top pay up. The company’s raises are far below the industry standard.

Pension: the pension should be for EVERYONE. A 401(k) means that you have to take a lot of money out of your pocket to hopefully have a decent retirement. A pension costs NOTHING out of pocket. It is a classic divide and conquer strategy. Those with the frozen pension have it frozen at $43. We must STAND TOGETHER, and not leave those with 16 years or less behind. If we accept this, on the next contract it’s very likely they will demand to do away with the pension for EVERYONE.

Health Care: Increased premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. It eats up your raises. Both Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft’s IAM contracts FROZE premiums for the life of the contract, so their raises (Cessna: 5%, 4%, 4%, Hawker: 4%, 4%, 4%), were REAL raises. But, you’ll be paying for more insurance, plus the 16 yrs and under people will have to make 401(k) contributions, too. What happened to that bonus and raise???

Spouses Health Care: If your spouse works elsewhere and the employer pays more than 50% of health care, your spouse will have to purchase insurance there, too. This is not a rule from either provider, this is from Vought.

Retiree Prescription Drugs: $425 a month (edit, changed from year) cap for retirees.

Random Drug testing for everyone!

40 hour rule: You have to work 40 hours to get overtime pay.

Seniority: Temporary transfer language: At the company’s will for up to 90 days.

You have made too many sacrifices for this company to accept this contract. Your Negotiating Committee stands together unanimously in recommending REJECTION and STRIKE.