Business > Aviation > Boeing Machinists Strike

Posted on Mon, Aug. 18, 2008

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Prayer vigil held for Hawker Beechcraft worker killed in accident

BY DEB GRUVER

The Wichita Eagle

A prayer vigil was held this afternoon for a Hawker Beechcraft worker killed early this morning when a truck driven by a fellow striking worker hit him on Greenwich.

Jeff Hart, 45, died in the accident, according to the Machinists Union Local Lodges 733.

The vigil was held at the Machinists union hall on MacArthur Road. The event was to have been a rally for the Machinists negotiations at Boeing Co.

"We know this a time of very solemn hearts," said Mike Burleigh, a union business representive who led the vigil. "We gather here today to think about Jeff."

Those who attended were Machinists represented employees at Hawker Beechcraft, Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems. They joined hands and prayed for strength for the family.

"We do not know why, but we want you to be here with this family," Burleigh prayed.

With a strike at Hawker Beechcraft and negotiations at Boeing, "we know that we have other things that we have to do,... but this is not the day for that," Burleigh said.

Linda Callen, a union steward at Hawker Beechcraft knew Hart.

"He was a nice man; he was very very friendly," Callen said. "And he was very kind."

Callen had been back to work only three weeks from having open heart surgery.

Despite the surgery, he wanted to walk the picket line to show his support of the strike, Callen said.

Hawker Beechcraft workers represented by the Machinists union went on strike Aug. 4 after rejecting the company's offer of a new labor contract.

The accident happened about 5 a.m. today in the 300 block of Greenwich Road just south of East Waterman Street. Hart was crossing from west to east across Greenwich when he was struck by a 1989 GMC truck driven by a 49-year-old Hawker Beechcraft worker.

Police said it appeared that Hart was running across Greenwich from an overflow parking lot near the old Palace Theatre toward a strike rally set to begin at 5 a.m.

The driver of the vehicle was southbound on Greenwich apparently trying to drive to a parking lot entrance that would allow him to park in the Palace overflow lot, police spokesman Gordon Bassham said.

Bassham said no charges have been filed in the case.

Some who took part in the rally Monday morning said the turnout had been strong and traffic was heavy at the time.

Rick Ward worked just a few feet from Hart on the Hawker 900 line in Plant Four. He was at the rally when he heard the news that Hart had been hurt. Ward went to the hospital where he learned Hart had died.

"I was totally shocked," Ward said.

He described Hart as a "freehearted person. I don't think he ever met a stranger."

In the workplace, "he'd always come up to me and asked if I needed any help from him," Ward said. "He was a very caring person."

A statement from Wood said that Hart had been member of the International Association of Machinists for two years.

Several Machinists provided CPR and assistance until police and an ambulance arrived, Wood said.

"Our thoughts and prayers today go out to Jeff's family," Wood said in the statement.

Donations for Hart's family are being collected today in every IAM-represented facility in Wichita, Wood said, and "we intend to do everything possible to assist the family of our fallen member. The Machinists Union is a family, and today we grieve as a family.a^

Hawker Beechcraft released a statement about 1:45 p.m. today, calling the accident a tragic loss.

"People across the company are deeply saddened that Jeff Hart passed away as a result of an accident this morning," said Andrew Broom, director of media relations and public affairs. "The company offers our most sincere condolences to his family and friends, and will be assisting the family during this difficult time."