Wichita aviation workers rally to stop outsourcing

September 02, 2010|By Megan Strader | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

WICHITA, Kan — It took place across the street from Cessna, but a rally Thursday afternoon brought together workers from all of Wichita's planemakers.

Their common goal, fight to keep jobs in Wichita and the time is critical - both Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft are negotiating contracts.

By 3:30 Thursday afternoon Hoover Road in Southwest Wichita was lined with workers from Cessna, Spirit, Boeing and Hawkerbeechcraft. All coming together for one goal.

Teresa Vasquez, a Cessna union member, tells Eyewitness News, "Wichita, Kansas is the Air Capital of the world and we want to keep it that way."

Thursday's rally was all about outsourcing jobs, and why the men and women there are fighting to see it stop.

"Whenever one aircraft worker is laid off in this city it affects three to five other jobs throughout the city of Wichita and the state of Kansas and it's time we stop," said Dennis Brunhoeber.

Both Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft are negotiating new contracts for their machinists. Hawker has already said they're exploring the idea of moving it's Wichita plant and Cessna has laid off nearly half of it's staff since 2008.

Edward Marling tells Eyewitness News, "It's a pretty nervewracking time."

And other aviation workers say there's no better time to have their voices heard.

Vasquez adds, "The companies, all the aviation companies, and the politicians that say they care about Wichita and the families and their futures - we want their attention because we want the problem solved."

"This affects everyone, from the folks all the way at the top to the people down on the floor," says Brunhoeber.

This is just the first of several rallies that we'll likely see over the next few weeks with negotiations continuing at Hawker and Cessna. Another rally is planned for next week.

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