Labor, Management Both Critical Of Obama Administration

It's likely that at some point the negotiations between the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and Hawker Beechcraft will become contentious. But at the outset of the negotiations late last week, both sides seemed to agree on at least one thing ... President Barack Obama is no friend to the aviation manufacturing industry.

Tom Buffenbarger (L), Bill Boisture

During opening remarks by IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger and Hawker Beechcraft CEO Bill Boisture set the tone and established the priorities for the negotiations that will lead to a new contract for 2,600 IAM members at Hawker Beechcraft. 

Buffenbarger spoke forcefully on behalf of the workers at Hawker and the general aviation industry itself. “We’re not afraid to speak out when we’re attacked,” said Buffenbarger, who noted the IAM’s aggressive defense of the industry in the face of disparaging comments by President Obama and others about the use of business aircraft.

Hawker Beechcraft CEO Boisture also noted President Obama’s critical remarks about business jets, calling the Obama Administration “no friend to our industry or our working people.”

The IAM President made an equally impassioned defense for workers’ defined benefit pensions, which join health care and job security as the top three bargaining priorities identified by members at Hawker Beechcraft. “One thing that still continues to work, even though it gets derided by Wall Street and investment bankers, is the concept of a good defined benefit pension plan. The pension plan that we have, that our members depend on, is of extreme importance,” declared Buffenbarger, who warned against the trap of benchmarking against other companies where pensions are being eliminated for new hires.

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