Health Care Premium Boost Said To Be The Major Sticking Point

Bombardier Learjet said Saturday that following an official vote, Wichita employees belonging to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) union had rejected a proposed labor agreement and voted in favor of a strike.

The union voted to walk off the job as of Monday. The Wichita Eagle reports that 79 percent of those participating voted to reject Bombardier's offer and go on strike. The current three-year contract expired at a minute after midnight Monday.

In a statement, Bombardier Learjet said it "put forward a fair and reasonable contract renewal offer to its unionized employees. While the company is disappointed that the offer was rejected with a vote in favor of a strike, the negotiations team is available to continue negotiations and is hopeful that the Union representing Bombardier Learjet employees will soon return to the bargaining table and, by working together, the two parties can resolve all outstanding issues."

The union represents about 825 workers at Bombardier's Learjet plant in Wichita. Union officials said that asking members to pay substantially more for their health care was the major sticking point in the proposed deal, though there were other issues as well, including the length of the contract.

Bombardier says a contingency plan at the Wichita site has been implemented, and the company is is working towards minimizing disruption to the production line, its customers and the community.

FMI: www.bombardier.com, www.goiam.org