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Raytheon Workers on Strike
KOLD news 13 ^ | Nov 5

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: raytheon; strike; thinkunion
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This plant makes about a quarter of all the missiles we have. Hopefully the workers will form some sort of agreement.

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.

1 posted on 11/05/2006 4:38:49 PM PST by onja
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To: onja

They should be very careful - as the CT Sikorsky workers have found out.

Most of their work is being "offloaded" now.


2 posted on 11/05/2006 4:43:21 PM PST by NY.SS-Bar9 (DR #1692 Check your elevation.)
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To: onja

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?


3 posted on 11/05/2006 4:49:03 PM PST by centurion316 (Democrats - Supporting Al Qaida WorldwideA)
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To: onja

If Arizona is not a "right to work" state, then perhaps they should move production to a "right to work" state


4 posted on 11/05/2006 4:52:12 PM PST by SauronOfMordor (A planned society is most appealing to those with the arrogance to think they will be the planners)
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To: onja
Well I hope he has the good judgment to go out in the parking lot and practice for a while!

Here is a link to a German language Forklift Video he might find instructive.

http://www.hugi.is/hahradi/bigboxes.php?box_id=51208&f_id=1000

Knowledge of German not needed, just watch!
5 posted on 11/05/2006 4:53:40 PM PST by Randy in Arizona
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To: onja

Good let these anachronistic bozos strike.

I hope Raytheon takes these jobs and offshores them or sends them to right to work states.


6 posted on 11/05/2006 4:55:31 PM PST by eleni121 ("Show me just what Mohammed brought:: evil and inhumanity")
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To: onja
I see multiple issues and a single cause.

By making free healthcare for every union employee (and extending the union to every floor sweeper and telephone jockey), by making retirement benefits last for half of a person's expected lifespan, by raking the membership for dues to pad the union's employment and leadership, as well as their political contributions, they've created the problems that they complain about.

If the company wisely decided to say, "Hey, employees - here's all the money we're going to dump down the drain for your life insurance, your health insurance, your retirement benefits, your sick leave, your maternity leave, etc. Plus here's what you'd pay in union dues, least from our side. Now, you're empowered to do whatever the heck you want to do with all of that. Want to buy a new car rather than insure yourself and your family? Go for it. It's yours to do with as you please," I doubt there's an employee, once they saw the numbers involved, that wouldn't jump at the chance.

Every form of mandatory service that a company has to buy is inflated. It always will be. There's rarely any competitive bids for insurance contracts, and retirement programs are almost a black art at this point in time.

There was a time when unions were a critical need. That time ended more than fifty years ago, and unions should be banned for any public employee or government contractor.
7 posted on 11/05/2006 4:56:34 PM PST by kingu (No, I don't use sarcasm tags - it confuses people.)
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To: onja

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.


8 posted on 11/05/2006 4:59:57 PM PST by Cobra64 (Why is the War on Terror being managed by the DEFENSE Department?)
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To: SauronOfMordor
If Arizona is not a "right to work" state, then perhaps they should move production to a "right to work" state

Given that we're in a war, the timing couldn't be worse for such a move.

9 posted on 11/05/2006 5:01:24 PM PST by Cobra64 (Why is the War on Terror being managed by the DEFENSE Department?)
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To: Cobra64
Raytheon Missile Systems
10 posted on 11/05/2006 5:05:32 PM PST by TADSLOS (Mohammed was the L. Ron Hubbard of his time.)
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To: TADSLOS

Arizona is a right to work state.


11 posted on 11/05/2006 5:20:04 PM PST by sdillard
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To: centurion316

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.


12 posted on 11/05/2006 6:05:21 PM PST by onja ("The government of England is a limited mockery.") (France is a complete mockery.)
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To: SauronOfMordor

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.


13 posted on 11/05/2006 6:08:22 PM PST by discostu (we're two of a kind, silence and I)
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To: Randy in Arizona

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"...


14 posted on 11/05/2006 6:27:04 PM PST by muffaletaman
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To: onja

striking a defense industry in time of war is an act of treason.


15 posted on 11/05/2006 6:28:17 PM PST by balch3
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To: Randy in Arizona

Sick, Sick, Sick - couldn't watch after the impaled worker ..


16 posted on 11/05/2006 6:36:34 PM PST by 11th_VA
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To: muffaletaman

Poor Klaus, he must end up as the CEO in the end.......


17 posted on 11/05/2006 6:38:16 PM PST by cmsgop ( Try Miracle Grow, with New and Improved Uterus Growing Power, endorsed by Cindy Sheehan)
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To: All

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.


18 posted on 11/05/2006 6:40:59 PM PST by gas0linealley
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To: gas0linealley

What part of helping out the war effort makes extortion honorable? Because that's what a strike is, pure 100% extortion.


19 posted on 11/05/2006 7:07:10 PM PST by discostu (we're two of a kind, silence and I)
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To: discostu

When workers strike, some may call it extortion, but what do they call higher profits?


20 posted on 11/05/2006 7:12:11 PM PST by gas0linealley
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