(WICHITA, Kan.) — Workers at one aircraft company worry about the fall-out from what happened at another. Hawker Beechcraft machinists learned on Monday they will vote on a new contract on October 9th.
There's no contract offer on the table yet because the two sides are still negotiating, but workers are already concerned.
"We always follow the same pattern as the other aircraft companies," said Tony Allen as he left Hawker Beechcraft Monday afternoon.
On Saturday, despite a majority of people voting against it, Cessna machinists ratified a lengthy contract offering small raises, higher health care costs and limited job security. A precedent workers at Hawker now fear.
"Trouble, that means trouble for us," said Barbara Johnson, a Hawker Beechcraft union member.
Take for instance contract length. In June Spirit Aerosystems accepted a 10 year contract, double the length of a traditional deal. Three months later, Cessna passed a seven year contract. Now workers at Hawker say they fully expect a similar length in their offer.
