Wichita Machinists Rally for Aerospace Jobs
June 17, 2010
Quick links+
 |
| IAM members in Wichita, KS, held a rally to support their negotiators and to oppose additional outsourcing of work to Mexico. |
Gathered in the heat outside the hotel where negotiations are taking place between District 70 and Spirit AeroSystems, workers and their families carried ‘Jobs Worth Fighting For’ signs and cheered as union leaders praised Spirit as the only aerospace company in Wichita, KS, that has refused to outsource work to Mexico.
Bombardier and Cessna have both outsourced work from Wichita to Mexico, while Hawker Beechcraft has closed its Salina plant and recently notified the union it intends to outsource more work.
“Each time one of these companies moves work to Mexico, it increases the pressure on other companies to do the same,” said Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge. “The end result of such a cycle is lethal for the economy of this city and this state. We’re prepared to work with companies who believe in this city, but we’re prepared to fight those companies that just want to cut and run.”
IAM members at Spirit will get a look at the company’s proposal on June 21, with a ratification vote scheduled to take place on June 25. Click http://www.d70iam.org/ for the latest information about the negotiations.
