Machinists approve contract with Textron

Machinists union members on Friday approved a new contract with Textron Aviation, with 73 percent of those voting favoring the deal.

The vote at Hartman Arena brings the Machinists who work for Cessna Aircraft and those who work for Beechcraft under one contract.

The two had been working under different contracts. Textron acquired Beechcraft Corp. in March and formed Textron Aviation.

The new six-year contract was to take effect Friday.

Textron wanted the new contract to give it the ability to shuffle people and operations between its different sites in Wichita.

The Machinists represent 2,494 hourly workers at Cessna under Local Lodge 774. At Beechcraft, the union represents 1,627 hourly workers under Local Lodge 733.

Beechcraft's five-year labor agreement would have expired in 2016; Cessna's seven-year agreement would have expired in 2017.

The union’s leadership backed the merged contract and were happy with the outcome.

“It’s definitely a positive move for us,” Molina said, after the vote. “We’re moving in the right direction. It going to give us the ability to grow here in Wichita and for our families later down the road.”

Job security was one of the union’s concerns. The company specified in its contract summary that it sees its major manufacturing operations in Wichita as the final assembly of the Citation, King Air, Baron/Bonanza and T-6.

Molina said approval of the contract calmed much of the concern over job security.

“Because of this, I think, this will preserve our work,” he said. “We can combine resources and hopefully eliminate future layoffs. If we get the products moving we will be in lot better shape.”

On Friday afternoon, the company issued a letter, also signed by Molina, saying it was pleased with the outcome.

“Textron Aviation is committed to continued investment in new products within both the Beechcraft and Cessna product families. The ratification of one contract allows us to make this investment and grow in Wichita.”

The letter was the company’s only comment.

Many of the Machinists leaving Hartman Arena after voting echoed the sentiment contained in the letter — that now was the time to help the combined company establish itself and start growing again.

Beechcraft worker Steven Mock said the contract was key to positioning the company for future success.

“It will bring us together as a company to build some good airplanes,” he said.

Some of the traditional Cessna employees said they voted for the contract because it was similar to, or even better than, what they presently have.

The new contract wasn’t as generous as the old Beechcraft contract, said several workers, but some Beechcraft workers voted for it anyway, in part because of threatened layoffs.

“One good thing is that it will keep some employees from being laid off,” said Amy Davis, a Beechcraft worker.

Mike Kennedy, another Beechcraft employee, said he was pleasantly surprised by the new contract.

“I thought we were going to lose, but we got to keep a lot,” he said.

According to the summary of the proposal on the union website, contract provisions include:

▪ Cost of living increases: yes, capped at $700.

▪ Wage increases: 2015, 3 percent to wages; 2016, 1.5 percent bonus; 2017, 2 percent to wages; 2018, 1.5 percent bonus; 2019, 1.5 percent to wages.

▪ Performance pay: 2015-2017, 2-4 percent; 2018-2020, 3-6 percent.

This story was originally published October 17, 2014 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Machinists approve contract with Textron."