Members of the Negotiating Committee representing 2,600 IAM members at Hawker Beechcraft (HBC) in Wichita, KS are unanimously recommending a ‘Yes’ vote on a tentative agreement reached this week between the IAM and Hawker Beechcraft.
The contract includes job security language, specifically identifying which job classifications would remain in Wichita. The language is in response to plans by HBC to move some work to outside vendors and facilities in Mexico.
Additional features of the tentative agreement include performance pay, a 50 percent match in a 401(k) plan of up to four percent of employee’s contribution and extension of employee recall rights. Pay rates will rise one percent in the third year, two percent in the fourth year and three percent in the fifth year of the contract.
A key issue for IAM negotiators was preserving the defined benefit pension plan for new hires. Under the proposed tentative agreement, new hires will continue to be covered under the traditional defined benefit pension plan. Voting on the new agreement will take place August 6 at Hartman Arena in Wichita.
