Hawker Beechcraft recorded an increase in orders, sales and earnings for the second quarter of 2008 compared to a year ago, the company said Tuesday.
Earnings were released on the second day of a work stoppage by 4,700 Hawker Beechcraft hourly workers in Wichita and about 500 in Salina. The workers, represented by the Machinists union, voted overwhelmingly to strike on Saturday and walked off the job Monday.
Wow. Not building airplanes is gonna sting on that bottom line, isn't it?
More from the article:
The strike has been peaceful and gone well, said Kurt Holtz, a strike coordinator and union steward.Pickets say they're resolved to stay out as long as it takes to get a better offer.
Val Barker, a 34-year employee, said it's difficult to predict how long the strike will last.
It will be over "once they figure out they can't build airplanes without us," Barker said.
Workers say they're striking over health insurance costs, pensions, job security, overtime and changes in earned time off and the downgrading of two job codes for new hires.
Randy Maddux, an assembler who has worked for the company 18 years, said one of the reasons for rejecting the contract was that the proposal was unclear.
In the last two years of the contract, the cost of insurance premiums is unknown, he said.
Our strike is strong and effective. Keep up the good work!
