Posted on 03/10/2006 4:17:17 AM PST by CT-Freeper
Copyright © 2006 Republican-American
STRATFORD -- After the largest union rally in the 18-day-old Sikorsky Aircraft strike, a company official said Thursday that the helicopter maker would begin moving work out of Connecticut if the strike continues.
"We hope the strike ends quickly," said Sikorsky spokesman Ed Steadham. "If it continues, starting next week, we will move work out of the state to our other plants."
Steadham's comments came the same day about 4,000 poster-waving union workers gathered outside the company's plant in a rally addressed by union leaders, politicians and public officials.
Increasing the workers' share of health care costs is the main issue over which the two sides disagree. Sikorsky would like the workers to accept a plan similar to what UTC's other subsidiaries offer. For Sikorsky workers, that would mean doubling health care contributions in the first year of a three-year deal beginning in 2007, and another 15 percent increase over the next two years.
Sikorsky workers voted 2,045 to 1,072 on Feb. 20 to go on strike. There have been no negotiations since. The company has said repeatedly it sees no basis for resuming talks and has run full-page advertisements in newspapers across the state declaring additional wages and bonuses would essentially cover the increased health care premiums.
"There is an epidemic of corporate greed," said James Hoffa Jr., president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who, along with members of other out-of-state union branches, showed up in support of Local 1150, which represents 3,600 Sikorsky workers.
"Look at the salaries they make," Hoffa said of company executives. "The CEO made $53 million and they want you to sacrifice. Hell no, we won't do it."
Chanting with him, the workers blew whistles and waved yellow-and-blue posters that read, "Sikorsky's corporate greed not gonna fly." One read "Down with King David," a reference to George David, CEO of United Technologies Corp., parent of Sikorsky Aircraft. Another poster said, "Medical benefits: Gone with the Wind."
"The company needs to talk to you," said U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4th District, who had distributed doughnuts to workers on the picket line the previous night. He was at the rally at the insistence of his wife, he said, who was moved by stories about the worker's dilemma over rising health care costs.
"You are part of a proud tradition, you need to stay united," he said.
So far, nearly 40 workers have crossed the picket lines to return to work. Rocco Calo, secretary treasurer of Local 1150, urged the workers to stay together because, "You cannot be replaced, your jobs cannot be outsourced."
Referring to changes announced in UTC's management on Wednesday, he added, "The only job that got outsourced was Steve Finger's."
Finger, until now the chief executive officer of Sikorsky, has been moved to Pratt & Whitney, while Louis Chenevert, president of Pratt, has been named president and chief operating officer of UTC.
"Our CEO made a lot of money off our blood and tears," said Mike Wojnarski, 49, a repair mechanic.
Wearing a bulldog mask, Rick Smith, an electrical installer from West Haven, said it symbolized "the dogs coming after Sikorsky."
"This is about health care for everyone," said Darlene Krisko, who works in production control at Sikorsky. "The rally shows that we are united."
Praising workers for "standing up and speaking out," state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said workers are showing a "great American tradition" and should consider the cost of not striking versus the cost of striking.
Blumenthal said state Rep. Lawrence G. Miller, R-Stratford, asked him whether the union should pay the cost of police protection on the picket lines and at the rally. The answer, Blumenthal said, is "no way."
Stratford police Capt. Harvey Maxwell said the strike has been a "hardship" on his department. Fifty-six of the 102 officers available were on duty for the rally, and most are working 12-hour shifts to oversee the picket lines.
No one has been hurt so far, he said, "and the union and the company's management have all cooperated."
Everyone has handled the strike "like a professional," Calo said, adding he wants to go "back to the table to negotiate." No talks have been scheduled, though, he said.
As for whether he thinks he can force Sikorsky to alter its offer, Calo said, "I'm trying for it."
And how much of their health care is Sikorsky paying for right now while they're on strike? I have never yet seen a strike that made me think that the strikers deserved my sympathy and this one is no exception.
Move to TX, we would love to have you.
I remember seeing somewhere that the 50% increase would bring their weekly payments up to $12-15 per week, or something like that. I'll have to see if I can find where I read that.
Yeah! Once Mayor Miller drives Sothwest Airlines to Phoenix there should be plenty of hanger space at Love field.
I was thinking around Kelly AFB in San Antonio.
Between UAE and campaigning 24/7/365, the Congress critters don't have time to pass any law stating that Sikorsky must give the workers free health care and mandate that the CEO takes a 52 million cut in pay.
At least I don't think they have the time.
nah... the strikers can stay in Connecticut. move the company to Texas. The union workers will bring their suck on the nipple mentality of Big Government collectivist anti-business lifestyle to Texas. They should move to ......... New York or stay up as far north as possible.
These people are screwing themseleves out of a very good and historical job.
Stupid-a** union dummies.
They are gonna strike themselves right out of work. Then blame it on the Company.
Mexicans are waiting for their first Sikorsky plant.
Are people being denied health care? I doubt it, people just don't want to pay for it.
If you belong to a union, you deserve special privileges, don't ya know.
We did a very large modification for special ops. Black Hawks (here in the plant) right after 9-11 and were amazed at how little work the union guys were doing- man it was like pulling teeth - and the Army saw that, too. Not good for business.
Now we have contractors do all of that work off site - they work their butts off and are grateful to be getting the work.
Word is they will eventually just lay off the whole union then bring back the workers they want back.
Re your bolded quote, that's exactly what the striking workers said at one of the former divisions of the company I now work for. They thought there was no way the company could or would move right up until the day the riggers showed up and started trucking out the equipment.
It would be in Grand Prairie where they have facilities now that they are already expanding. Plus, there is a large labor pool associated with Bell Helicopter available.
This reminds me of Mary Hartman Mary Hartman with hubby Tom making some un-godley amount for screwing in a over head dome light bulb....
These people are fools(sheeple)with the economy as poor as it is in Ct they are screwing them selves big time..Once Igor leaves he aint comming back and they will be going from big bucks to no bucks...
So would Missouri.
Carolyn
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