Machinists union District 70 in multiple rounds of labor talks

It’s a hectic time for the Machinists union District 70, which is in the midst of negotiating several labor contracts simultaneously.

The union is currently holding talks with Textron Aviation, Sherwin Williams in Andover, Tyson Fresh Meats in Holcomb, L3 at Forbes Field in Topeka, and Training Rehabilitation and Development Institute, or TRDI, and CAE, both at McConnell Air Force Base.

The bargaining groups range in size from thousands of workers, as is the case at Textron Aviation, to two.

“It seems like you just run in circles,” said Frank Molina, directing business representative of the Machinists District 70. “I’m lucky to have a great staff.”

The union recently finished negotiations with Yingling Aviation, where it represents about 40 mechanics, and with VAE Nortrak North America in Newton, where it represents about 100 workers.

“We’re in our busy season right now,” Molina said.

Negotiations with Textron Aviation recently opened, the union and company told members in a memo last week.

The two are working to bring Cessna Aircraft and Beechcraft hourly workers under a single labor contract.

It’s part of the integration process begun in March when Textron, Cessna’s parent company, closed the deal to buy Beechcraft Corp., and formed Textron Aviation, the company and union said.

Molina declined to comment on the negotiations with Textron. A Textron Aviation spokeswoman also declined comment.

Talks with Sherwin Williams opened Tuesday. The current three-year contract for 112 workers there expires Sept. 27.

The biggest concerns for the employees, according to a survey taken, include health care, pensions and wages, Molina said.

Health care costs are always a main concern in labor talks, he said.

Workers at Tyson Fresh Meats voted in favor of union representation this year. The group of represented employees work mainly in intellectual technology.

“It’s a new group,” Molina said. “They’ve very educated individuals.”

Now the union and Tyson must forge an initial labor contract for the group. Talks recently opened.

The union is also negotiating with CAE Inc., which offers flight training services. The group is based at McConnell Air Force Base. The Machinists represent about 20 people there.

It’s also negotiating with Training, Rehabilitation and Development Institute, or TRDI, at McConnell, where it represents two people.

Negotiations with L3 at Forbes Field have been delayed until November.

Bargaining went well with Yingling and VAE Nortrak, Molina said.

“Lynn Nichols over there at Yingling did a really good round of negotiations,” Molina said. “That and the HR (human resources) reps. They did a really good job.”

Negotiations for a new three-year contract between Yingling and the union went smoothly, said Yingling CEO Lynn Nichols.

The two sides struck a deal about 30 days before the current contract expires on Sept. 30, he said.

The union represents 60 percent of Yingling’s employees, including mechanics, avionics technicians, and shipping and receiving and line personnel.

“Of all the contract renewals we participated in, this was the most pleasant,” Nichols said.

Molina understood the economics and business side of Yingling as well as the labor side, he said.

“My whole team appreciated that,” Nichols said.

Talks with VAE Nortrak, which manufacturers railroad tracks, concluded in August.

This story was originally published September 19, 2014 at 9:28 AM with the headline "Machinists union District 70 in multiple rounds of labor talks."