Company Continues Production At Reduced Rates

Sikorsky Aircraft officials met with union representatives on Monday, for the first time since thousands of workers walked out of plants in Connecticut and Florida one week ago.

The strike has been the elephant in the room around the Sikorsky display at this year's Heli-Expo, currently underway in Dallas. While company officials have been eager to laud recent sales, as well as spotlight the vital role the company's helicopters played in hurricane relief efforts last year, they have been mum about strike -- and the effects the loss of over 3,600 workers has had on production.

The Associated Press reports there was nothing especially significant about Monday's meeting -- except that it occured in the first place.

"Sikorsky and the union did have initial contact with each other to explore what opportunities there are to resume negotiations," said company spokesman Bud Grebey. "We'll need some further evaluation of that contact today to see if an opportunity presents itself to get back to the table."

Teamsters Local 1150 president Harvey Jackson said both parties agreed to meet later in the week.

"I think both sides were very careful not to get into any particulars," Jackson said. "The good news is we are having a dialogue. We don't appear to be at an impasse."

Meanwhile, the strike entered its second week Tuesday -- and while Sikorsky continues to operate three shifts, seven-days-per-week with salaried employees, spokesman Edward Steadham indicated it was barely enough.

"We're not operating at full production at this point," Grebey said. "We are meeting commitments to the customers."

FMI: www.sikorsky.com