Machinists president calls on Spirit, Onex to resume sale talks

The day after the Machinists Union said talks had broken down over the sale of Spirit AeroSystems’ fabrication and machining work, the group’s leader was urging the companies involved to return to the table.

Frank Molina, president of the Machinists District 70, said Friday there’s no other option for his members but for Spirit and Onex/Advanced Integration Technology to overcome the impasse.

Since early June, the Machinists have said Spirit plans to sell that work and Onex and AIT were a prospective buyer. Molina said Onex and AIT have committed to the union that it would build a 1.5 million-square-foot building in the area and employ the Machinists affected by the sale.

Molina said Friday about 1,000 Machinists would be affected by the sale of fabrication and machining, which includes making aircraft parts such as ribs – or the frame of an airplane fuselage – bulkheads and seat rails.

He said he worries that other prospective buyers would move the work elsewhere because no other companies have contacted the union.

“It’s really upsetting, just the whole thing,” Molina said. “It’s not like you’re talking about outsourcing five jobs. It’s a whole lot of people.”

Molina said he thinks the key to getting the companies back to the table lies with Spirit CEO Larry Lawson.

“I don’t know what actually broke down in talks, but I know that Larry Lawson, if he wants something to happen, he will make it happen,” Molina said. “We have had plenty of tests with Larry over obstacles or problems with Spirit, and we have always overcome them.”

Molina said he is trying to arrange a meeting with Lawson.

“It’s the right combination, and we need them to get back together,” he said.

This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 10:21 AM with the headline "Machinists president calls on Spirit, Onex to resume sale talks."