Members of the machinists union will vote Saturday on whether to accept Cessna Aircraft's contract offer or to strike as their union leaders recommend.
The company has called the seven-year contract offer "very fair" given the extraordinary challenges in the economy and aircraft industry. But the union says workers are concerned about a lack of job security and an increase in health care costs.
The union represents about 2,500 machinists at its Wichita plant whose contract expires Sunday.
A simple majority is needed to approve the contract, but it takes a two-thirds majority to authorize a strike.
If workers vote down the contract, but cannot muster enough votes for a strike the contract is accepted by default.
If workers turn it down the contract while also getting sufficient strike votes, a strike would begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday, union spokesman Bob Wood said.
The last time the machinists struck Cessna was in 1978 in a strike that lasted two weeks.
Cessna's offer contains no wage increase in the first four years, with a 1 percent raise for some — but not all workers — in the final three years. There also are annual cost-of-living increases throughout the life of the contract. It includes a ratification bonus of $2,500 paid in January and a lump sum payment of $1,000 in January 2012.
But the union has balked at switching to a health care plan that would increase costs for many employees.
Steve Rooney, directing business representative, said guaranteed work for Wichita wasn't adequately addressed in the contract.
The offer preserves current wages and pensions and offers a competitive health care plan, said Cessna spokesman Bob Stangarone.
"It's critically important to understand that we're competing globally in a very challenging economy," he said.
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Information from: The Wichita Eagle, kansas.com
