USA shuttle workers vote to strike

[Eugene]

Source: Florida Today

June 2, 2007

USA shuttle workers vote to strike

FLORIDA TODAY

A union representing about 570 United Space Alliance space shuttle
program workers at the Kennedy Space Center voted to strike Saturday
morning after unsuccessful contract negotiations.

The bargaining team for the International Association of Machinist
and Aerospace Workers rejected the company’s contract offer calling
it “substandard” compared with other aerospace companies, said Lynn
Beattie, a member of the bargaining team and former Local 2061
president.

Both sides will have a chance to solve the conflict during a five-day
“cooling off period” but the union could strike as early as midnight
June 9, Beattie said.

Tracy Yates, spokeswoman for United Space Alliance, said the company
is “surprised and disappointed.”

“The final offer was fair, competitive and responsive in every area,”
she said.


Link: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070602/BREAKINGNEWS/70602011/1086

---

Source: Associated Press

Space Shuttle Union Votes To Strike

Associated Press
Sunday, June 3, 2007; Page A12

MELBOURNE, Fla., June 2 -- A union representing 570 space shuttle
program workers at the Kennedy Space Center voted Saturday to strike
as early as June 10, two days after NASA officials plan to launch the
space 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.

"The bottom line is, a strike would not affect the next launch or the
next one after that," United Space Alliance spokeswoman Tracy Yates
said. The company "has a plan in place."

Both sides have agreed to a five-day cooling off period.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/02/AR2007060201434.html

[Dr.Phool]

1. A fair, responsive, and competitive offer.

Most likely something along the lines of a minimal pay raise, that will be wiped out by more insurance co-pays, and shared premiums. And who are they competing against? The Chinese? Mall-Wart? Illegal immigrants?

As a former union negotiator, they probably threatened to hire "guest workers" in their place.

[1776Forever]

2. Fellow Americans - We all need to stand up for our rights more!

My thoughts and prayers are with you to be able to hold on to the middle-class lifestyle we so cherish in this country which is being stripped from us everyday more and more by the Corporate thieves who only think of the bottom line!

I am sick of this maneuvering and conspiracy to wreck our middle-class and take away what we have worked and fought for all these years! Keep up the good fight! We all need to speak up more and support each other! If we don't we are going to give away our children's future and it won't help anyone in the end! :grr: