Posted on 06/04/2007 8:24:03 AM PDT by RDTF
MELBOURNE, Fla. — A union representing 570 space shuttle program workers at the Kennedy Space Center voted to strike Saturday, less than a week before the planned launch of the shuttle Atlantis.
The International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, which represents the United Space Alliance employees, rejected the company's contract offer Saturday morning, Florida Today reported.
United Space Alliance spokeswoman Tracy Yates said the union could strike as early as June 10, two days after NASA officials plan to launch Atlantis.
"The bottom line is, a strike would not affect the next launch or the next one after that," Yates said. The company "has a plan in place."
The union's negotiating team felt the company's offer was "substandard," said Lynn Beattie, a member of the group and former Local 2061 president. Both sides have agreed to a five-day cooling off period.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The IAM, imagine that..
When the workers strike and the managers take over operations expect a lot of electronics to be smoking next day.
ping
Hmmm... What happened last time a union for a national transportation system went on strike? Hmmmm...
These guys are playing games with lives. There are large gaps between flights in which they could strike, this is blatant abuse of leverage of the Shuttle’s launch status.
Union strong-arm tactics. More liberal crap.
Unions need to be outlawed.
do what reagan did to the air traffic controllers...fire ‘em
Someone please explain to me the reason these “workers” even need union representation? Does NASA provide an unsafe workplace? Does NASA pay an unfair wage? Are NASA’s benefits lacking?
Or is this just another case of unionized folks being greedy (as is the case in 98.95% of cases these days with Unions and strikes)?
bingo
As I implied with my other post - Unions have little practical purpose or need these days.
There was a time in history where Unions actually served a legitimate purpose - they protected workers from unsafe conditions and poor wages. Now, the unions are nothing more than money generators for the union bosses.
This strike gives NASA a chance to get ahead of the game.
Ground the shuttle, stop the ISS money bleed(our doublewide in space), and put the money into a new launch vehicle and a moonbase.
And leave the union holding the bag.
The democratic congress is already cutting NASA’s budget.
Something about mars misson and bush’s legacy I’m sure.
Geez, Capt. Kirk would never have made it as far as Uranus if he had had unions to contend with.
This should be the shuttle processing workers. The work they do is performed per the written procedures, so any dolt can pick up the paper and carry out the process. Not because the people doing the work are dolts, but because NASA quality requires each step be stamped off on predefined procedures.
Not NASA’s year this year. lol.
Fire them all, ala Reagan and the Air Traffic Controllers.
Might be smoking on Endeavour and Discovery. The strike is two days after Atlantis launches, that is, if if goes off without a hitch Friday.
one of my favorites
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