Raytheon replacing striking workers

[Kuciwalker]

Um, Raytheon is something like the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. The federal government isn't just going to say "not doing business with you anymore."

[Patroklos]

Perhaps not totally, but they can take Raytheon Missile Systems's contracts away.

I am sure other contractors would be foaming at the mouth to get them.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by Tuberski


You got to be kidding me. I have yet to meet an engineer that can build the things they design.

In fact, from an operational standpoint, I've yet to see a design that works exactly as an engineer specified.

ACK!

Exactly the point. Thanks.

[Spaced Cowboy]

You are crazy, it just needs a slight tweak, maybe a little bit of a redesign.

[axi]

The unabridged version of the same article, from a local paper.

Raytheon starts replacing strikers

10:54 AM MST on Saturday, January 6, 2007

By The Arizona Daily Star

Raytheon Missile Systems has started replacing factory workers who are on strike.

The company will decide later whether these new workers will cost strikers their jobs, said Raytheon spokeswoman Sara Hammond. A union spokesman called the hires "an insult to existing employees."

In the two months since union workers rejected a new labor contract, production has risen above pre-strike levels and some projects are ahead of schedule, Hammond said. But the company can't keep using its engineers as factory workers forever.

The positions the company is hiring for are assembly workers, starting at $13.48 an hour, and custodians, starting at $10 an hour, she said. Hammond wouldn't say how many the company expects to hire, but Raytheon has received dozens of résumés following advertisements in newspapers and on the company Web site.

The company sees the new hires as a way to "move on" from the 62-day stalemate, Hammond said.

Representatives of the International Association of Machinists and Raytheon have separate meetings scheduled with a federal mediator on Friday.

"We continue to respect our employees' rights to strike, and we know there are many willing to do so indefinitely, but we hope they respect our obligation to meet our customer needs and move on," Hammond said.

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 933's directing business representative, Bobby Martinez, called Raytheon's announcement a strategic ploy.

"This is a company tactic to pressure our members into accepting their offer," he said. Around 90 percent of the union members voted to reject the offer in November because "it's a below-industry-standards offer and there are some uncertainties in the language of the contract," Martinez said.

Strikers have said their main concerns are the rising cost of health insurance and minimal raises for the highest-paid employees covered by the contract.

Hammond said, "As long as the strike goes on, we have to think about how we're going to meet our customer commitments." She said the company is "just starting to explore the options," which could include moving some factory work to other Raytheon facilities that don't have unions.

Raytheon Missile Systems, a division of Raytheon Co., has three other factory facilities. Workers at its Kentucky factory are represented by a union, but workers at its New Mexico and Arkansas sites are not. Raythe-on employs about 11,000 people overall in Tucson and is Southern Arizona's biggest private employer.

Hammond said production at the local factory is better than it was before the strike began Nov. 5.

"The work force is performing exceptionally well," she said. No delivery deadlines have been missed and some projects are ahead of schedule, she said.

In a lot of cases, the engineers who designed the missiles now are on the factory floor building them, and they have improved productivity as they have found better ways to get things done, Hammond said.

"We're not only completing work that had been started, but we're starting new work," she said.

On Friday, Raytheon and union officials are to meet with a federal strike mediator in separate appointments. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service commissioner Pete Cinquemani said he contacted both sides "to explore different options to get the strike settled."

"We hope that (the mediator) will shed some light on what the issues are that could bring this to some resolution," Hammond said.

In a prepared statement, Martinez said, "We look forward to a chance for open dialogue on the issues that forced us into this strike. We would never turn down an opportunity to reach an end to this current situation. Hopefully, Raytheon will come to the meeting with the same spirit of cooperation and resolve."

Neither the company nor the union has asked the other side for a negotiation meeting.

[axi]

The union site:

http://www.iam933.org/

Our Issues

This strike is not about us wanting more; we were forced into this position because of Raytheon’s insistence on takeaways – while they are making billions on the war effort. Shame on them for being so greedy, we aren’t the enemy!

In the last few weeks Raytheon has announced a 41% increase in earnings per share and all they can think of is how to get more.

· This union has made concessions in the past, when Raytheon needed help to survive. In this contract, we agreed to increase in our medical costs, as well as giving them more flexibility in outsourcing, but they are just greedy. We tried to be reasonable, but they want us to agree to an 87% increase in our medical costs over the next three years and give them the option of raising it even more – and Raytheon’s own experts told us that their costs were only expected to go up 6% per year!

Twenty-five percent of our workers haven’t had a raise in several years. With this contract proposal, many would be excluded from any raises again – and some of those that would get a pay increase will have it taken back to pay for the medical cost increases. In reality, a lot of our members would actually take home less money if they accept this proposal.

The Raytheon pension plan is over-funded. This means that if everyone in the plan were to receive their due, there would be money left over. Raytheon wants to deny future workers any chance to have a good pension after they have served them for decades.

· Our pension is not a gift; it has been funded by money that was part of our compensation for working each hour. It is deferred compensation – and our children deserve to have a chance to enjoy what we sacrificed for. Tucson workers deserve better, Raytheon just wants to further line their pockets.

Enough is enough; we didn’t want to be on strike, but we had no choice. We can’t accept a contract with so many concessions while Raytheon gloats about their profits.

SHAME ON RAYTHEON

[Grandpa Troll]

You know, I am 47 and had some terrible jobs and some great jobs but most were just ok jobs. But they paid the bills.

I was reading these and wondering if the strikers are looking at the "TOTAL PACKAGE" as in wages, insurance,vacation, ect. versus a simplied hourly rate.

I love the above "Strikers" standpoint from the union site, if its all legit, when they sated "We had no choice"

Enough is enough; we didn’t want to be on strike, but we had no choice. We can’t accept a contract with so many concessions while Raytheon gloats about their profits

They did not "HAVE" to strike. they should look at what other big industries in Kentucky had happen, Ford they ended up closing many North American factories and sending jobs elsewhere.

I never understod about this group mentality. Are they being paid b y someone while out of work?

Just how far ahead are they

Now I know, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

But then again so does the Boss and woe to them if they were to lose their jobs, just how many 7-11 clerks or mcdonalds fry cooks on thrid shift get paid what they do?

Gramps

[SlowwHand]

Our Issues

This strike is not about us wanting more;

It sure as hell isn't about them wanting less.
Defense contractors have damn fine benefits. I know. I worked for one for over 11 years in planning.

[axi]

They are defense industry workers, their jobs won't fly off to another country.

[axi]

$10 and $14 an hour isn't much though, even for Greek standards.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by axi
They are defense industry workers, their jobs won't fly off to another country.

How about another area of our country?

Just asking many places are looking jobs and just say these guys are making 12.00 an hour that would look mighty good to someone who is making 8.50 an hour.

Just suggesting sometimes the greasy wheel doesnt get the grease it gets the shaft, broken, not stirred and the wheel is cast aside.

Gramps

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by axi
$10 and $14 an hour isn't much though, even for Greek standards.

may depend upon the local economy and living standard axi

Gramps

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
If the Raytheon spokesperson is to be believed. Since government contractors are notorious liars, why should we believe them?

My Evil Big Defense Contractor pays for all my healthcare and Dental, throws in the same that I do with the 401k, pays for further schooling, and offers company sotck at 15% discount to employees.

And that's entry-level.

Speaking to come of the other contractors around here, their pay-o-la is similar, so I say to you: Boo-****ing-who



And Unions that strike during wartime should be shot.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Lonestar


My Evil Big Defense Contractor pays for all my healthcare and Dental, throws in the same that I do with the 401k, pays for further schooling, and offers company sotck at 15% discount to employees.

And that's entry-level.

Speaking to come of the other contractors around here, their pay-o-la is similar, so I say to you: Boo-****ing-who



And Unions that strike during wartime should be shot.

Now thats why I enjoy Lonestar, not simply for his love of Cats although it has a BIG PLUS fer that but because he understands and see's the big picture.

Gramps

[SlowwHand]

The union where I worked told their membership straight out, benefits add about 20% to their pay.
I'd say that's right.