Posted on 11/05/2006 4:38:48 PM PST by onja
Hundreds of machinists employed by Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson voted Sunday to reject the company's final labor contract, and then voted to go on strike. The strike is effective as of Monday, November 6.
Since October 2, Raytheon had been negotiating a new contract with union leaders representing the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, Local 933. Union representatives say the sticking points have included cost-of-living wage increases, affordable health care, and a secure pension plan.
The current contract, which covers about 2,000 workers in manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance operations at Raytheon expired Sunday.
Raytheon Missile Systems is southern Arizona's largest private employer, with more than 10,000 workers on its payroll.
Raytheon officials say, in light of the workers' walk-out, a contingency plan is in place to keep business up and running. The work left behind by striking employees will be filled by salaried employees.
Raytheon has set up an information line for employees, wondering what to do if trying to come to work on Monday morning :
Information for employees : (520)294-3360.
Information is also available at "raytheon.com/labor."
Raytheon officials also say, workers reporting to the Raytheon site at the UA Science & Technology Park should use the Kolb Road entrance only.
BTW- Tommorow my dad, an engineer, will be driving fork lifts around. He seems kinda excited; he hasn't done that since he was in college.
They should be very careful - as the CT Sikorsky workers have found out.
Most of their work is being "offloaded" now.
Wonder what our troops in Iraq, who need these missles to fight this war think of the wonderful little union goons of Raytheon? Whom would you rather support, our soldiers or these union members?
If Arizona is not a "right to work" state, then perhaps they should move production to a "right to work" state
Good let these anachronistic bozos strike.
I hope Raytheon takes these jobs and offshores them or sends them to right to work states.
Where does this figure into a national defense risk? Can the feds step in much as Ronnie did with the striking aircraft controllers back in the 1980s.
Given that we're in a war, the timing couldn't be worse for such a move.
Arizona is a right to work state.
The troops probably don't think much of them. Me either. In case you're wondering, I have little sympathy for the strikers especially since they're messing up such a vital industry.
AZ is a right to work state, but Raytheon is a multi-state organization, if they try to bust the union here there will be hell to pay. Pretty much the only way unions survive in AZ is in multi-state companies so they get the support of other union locals.
http://www.hugi.is/hahradi/bigboxes.php?box_id=51208&f_id=1000
THAT is the wierdest - sickest - most disgusting safety training video I have every seen...
Yuck - but it makes its "point"...
striking a defense industry in time of war is an act of treason.
Sick, Sick, Sick - couldn't watch after the impaled worker ..
Poor Klaus, he must end up as the CEO in the end.......
If Raytheon plays an important role in America's defense, then the strikers have had a hand in that. They have earned our gratitude and they deserve better from us than the majority here has given them.
What part of helping out the war effort makes extortion honorable? Because that's what a strike is, pure 100% extortion.
When workers strike, some may call it extortion, but what do they call higher profits?
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