|
Archive, Aug
28-Sept 3, 2004
Friday, Sept 3, 2004
Negotiations Update
The meeting this morning
was very short. Textron seems to feel
we should be proud of the pay cuts they wish to force upon us. Yes,
pay cuts. No raises and huge insurance costs. That's a pay cut, no
matter how they try to put lipstick on it.
Your committee will be meeting
and working through the weekend, and we will let you know when
we meet with the company next. You've done a great job on the shop
floor to take this fight to the company.
Have a great labor day weekend. Remember, this holiday
celebrates YOU - the workers who built and continues to build this
country. Enjoy the three-day weekend and remember it's your union
- workers standing together, who negotiated this holiday.
And be ready for a busy week next week. We will be
updating the website through the weekend.
Your Negotiating Committee
posted at
7:30 PM
Quote of the Day
"I know the trials and woes of working men and I have always felt for them.
I know that in almost every case of strikes, the men have a just cause for complaint"
President Abraham Lincoln
posted at 10:15 AM
Thursday, Sept 2, 2004
Negotiations Update 2
Worst Proposal EVER! For the full scoop, see
the flyer (for those without adobe acrobat reader, see
this flyer) we are now printing and will be distributed tomorrow
morning. This is not a false alarm! This is the worst proposal
in memory!
Your Negotiating Committee
posted at 8:45 PM
New Flyer - Alternate
Workweek
Available Now!
posted at 5:15 PM
Get Your Buttons Now!
Definity
Means
Strike!
available from your union steward or union office!
posted at 5:05 PM
Pure Greed
Don't let them kid you, not
one minute! The need for any takeaways or having to shove crummy
insurance on us is a scam. Take a look at this article about the
future of business
at Cessna -
"It is readily
apparent that the general economic recovery is reinvigorating the
business jet market," Lewis Campbell, chief executive of parent
company Textron Inc., said in a conference call with industry analysts
Thursday.
Campbell said the Wichita-based
aircraft manufacturer now expects to deliver 180 jets this year,
up from the earlier forecast of 175. Cessna plans to deliver 225
jets in 2005.
He said Cessna booked orders for
72 jets in the second quarter, and the expected production run
for the year is sold out.
*snip*
The company is starting to be able
increase jet prices, and Campbell said the jet production backlog
has reached 160, twice what it was a year ago.
Jeesh. Increase their prices, and
cut our wages and benefits. Hmmm. Sounds like a great scam. Tell
your Supervisor that takeaways means Strike!
posted at 5 PM
Afternon Negotiations
Update
Negotiations and our work went late last night, but things are still
moving slow. There is a wide gulf between the two sides on the non-economic
side of things.We did not want to present a flyer to you until we had
some concrete info. Tonight we will have that information.
Textron will not present their economic proposal until
4 PM tonight. We don't expect it to be anything Textron is very proud
of, which is probably why they've dragged their feet in presenting
it.
We will have an new update tonight after Textron's
proposal, and we will have handbills in the plant first thing tomorrow
morning.
Keep up your support in the shop. We'll post another
update this evening as soon as we can.
posted at 1:00 PM
Quote of the Day
"It is to the real advantage
of every producer, every maufacturer and every merchant to cooperate
in the improvement of working conditions, because the best customer
of American industry is the well-paid worker"
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Cleveland, 10/16/36
posted at 10:15 AM
Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004
Negotiations Update
Today we finally signed some Tentative Agreements with Textron, over
some minor issues – which illustrates how slowly the negotiations are
going. Textron did put a non-economic proposal on the table today,
and there is quite a bit not to like in it. We are going through it
and we’ll let you know as soon as possible the problems with Textron’s
proposals and how it strips your rights away.
Although Textron seems to be in no hurry, we are planning to exchange
economic proposals tomorrow. Needless to say, we don’t think Textron’s
proposal will be anything to be proud of.
Three short years ago Textron proudly wanted to lead off negotiations
in Wichita because they wanted to be the premier aircraft company
with the best pay and benefits for the best people. They had a few
slogans – “America’s Best People” and “Top Ten Company to Work For.”
Too bad they were just slogans.
Well, Textron seems to have dropped any pretense of wanting that
anymore. They want to be the company in the lead rewarding its loyal
workforce by stripping their pay, rights, and benefits. How things
change in a few years.
Once again, keep up the pressure in the shop. We’re coming into
the home stretch next week. Negotiations will continue through the
holiday weekend, and there is little time and we have a long way
to go to come to a proposal that we can recommend to our members.
Textron will not GIVE us a decent contract. We must DEMAND it on
the shop floor. Thank you for your support!
WHAT TIME IS IT?
Your Negotiating Committee
posted at 9:15 PM
Tuesday, Aug 31, 2004
Negotiations Update
Just a short update tonight - The training committee and the productivity/scheduling
committee met today, trying to whittle down the proposals.
We expect an extensive non-economic proposal from the
company in the morning. We'll give you an update tomorrow evening
on the proposal.
Things are no better. However, your noise in the shop
is being heard by management, and be sure to let them know you won't
accept any takeaways in this contract. What you do in the shop will
have an effect at the bargaining table. Keep making yourself heard.
Your Negotiating Committee
posted at 6:00 PM
Quote of the Day
"It is not the employer who pays the wages - he only handles the money.
It is the product that pays the wages."
Henry Ford
posted at 9:15 AM
Monday, Aug 30, 2004
Negotiations Update
Today we were scheduled to
meet for the company to respond on our non-economic proposal. The
company stated they were unprepared to respond at this time, and
the meeting was rescheduled to Wednesday to focus on issues unresolved
in subcommittee meetings. Today was filled with subcommittee meetings,
and tomorrow will be too.
The Training, Productivity/Scheduling and Safety subcommittees met
today. Your rights under the contract continue to be attacked on
issues like seniority. Needless to say things are not getting better
at the table. We spend a lot of time on what the company wants to
take away from all of us.
We appreciate the support we are getting from the shop floor. You
are succeeding in being heard by the company. Textron has been under
the assumption you will accept whatever kind of takeaways they can
dream up, and won’t fight for them.
We know they are wrong, but we need you to continue to prove to
Textron that the Machinists will stand and fight for what we have,
and we won’t stand for Textron’s greed to hurt the protections and
rights we’ve fought for over the years.
This is the most important contract we’ve ever had. It won’t be
easy. We need everyone to be a member, and we need your voice heard
out in the shop. Thanks for your support!
Your Negotiating Committee
posted at 6:15 PM
Quote of the Day
"Let my people go!"
Protest sign at new England Provision Company (NEPCO) on refusal
of company to let workers freely use the restroom.
posted at 9:30 AM
Saturday, Aug 28, 2004
A Little Weekend Reading
The Little Red Hen: A Closer Look at a Conservative Fable
Read it here
posted at 10:15 PM
Quote of the Day
"The selfish greed of "in-your-face capitalism" will not be stopped
by relying on the altruism of CEO's. ... as can be seen in our history, the only
answer to a powerful business leader is a powerful labor union."
Hilton M. Weiss
posted at 9:45 PM
This
site contains video in Windows Media Format Click Link below to
download Windows Media Player
Back
to the Top
Copyright © 2001 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace
Workers Local Lodge 774. All Rights Reserved.
HOME
|
