IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING HEALTH INSURANCE - RETURNING BACK TO WORK - PAYCHECKS

Health Insurance - It will take 7 to 10 days for our insurance to take effect. New insurance cards will be issued by the insurance company. In the meantime if you need to visit a Doctor or fill a prescription you can keep the receipts and turn them into the insurance company for reimbursement. Or visit with your Doctor about waiting to turn in the bill till the insurance takes effect. Visit with the pharmacy about working with you also.
Returning Back To Work - You do not have to call in to let the company know that you won't be in that day as long as you return by Friday. As long as you return by Friday you will also get paid for the Labor Day Holiday.
Strike Benefit Pay Checks - Will be available for pickup Tuesday September 2nd between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the District 3830 S. Meridian.

THE RESULTS ARE IN

With 77% of the members that voted from LL2328 and LL733 voting in favor or accepting the latest contract off from Hawker Beechcraft. You can put your walking shoes away and enjoy your Union Negotiated Labor Day Weekend. We'll see you at work next week.
Congratulations to our Members!!! You made the difference.

STRIKE BENEFIT CHECKS

Can be picked up Tuesday September 2nd, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the District 3830 S. Meridian.

CONTRACT PROPOSAL

Click Here for a copy of the contract proposal that we will be voting on this Thursday 8/28/08 at the Kansas Coliseum.

Cover Letter

Contract Summary

BC/BS Summary of Benefits

Preferred Health Summary of Benefits

Contract Vote Eligibility

ONLY Active and current members are eligible to vote on Thursday. NO ONE who has crossed the picket line to go to work, or has resigned from the Union can vote on the contract offer.

Contract Ratification Vote

Thursday August 28th, 2008 at the Kansas Coliseum in the main building. Doors will open at 9:00 am. Reading of the new proposal begins at 10:00 am. Polls will stay open till 2:00 pm. Make sure to contact our members to let them know about today's developments so that they will know what is going on.

FROM YOUR NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE

Brothers and Sisters,

After a long three days working with the Federal Mediator, and a lot of tough negotiating, last night after midnight, we came to a tentative agreement with Hawker Beechcraft, pending your ratification.

After 21 days of striking, we have gained important and substantial improvements over the company’s Last, Best and Final Offer we rejected. Your Negotiating Committee is recommending the contract.

Although you never get everything you want, you should be very proud of the improvements you have won.

• The largest improvement is that the employee share of health care premiums, including vision and dental, has been frozen at current costs for the life of the three-year agreement.
• Our pension was increased to seven dollars, front-loaded and available January 1, 2009.
• No-takeaway ETO for new hires. New-hire ETO will be the same as current employees. And all ETO can be used in one hour increments.
• Overtime – For those on the 3/12 and 4/10 workweeks, the seventh day overtime is voluntary.
• Material Handlers / Expediters will not be downgraded.
• Health insurance will be restored on Friday 8/29/08 if the contract is ratified.

We will be giving a complete contract proposal as soon as they are printed. With the frozen health care costs, your four percent raises are true raises.

Tentatively, we will be voting the contract on Thursday, in order to allow those who have left town to return and vote. If the contract is ratified, we will return to work next Tuesday, and if you return next week, you will be paid for the Labor Day Holiday. Also, you will receive your last strike check next week, for a total of two checks.

Probationary employees who honored the picket lines will be reinstated, and suffer no retaliation. All probationary employees will have their probation extended the amount of days we were on strike.

As we said, we walked out together, and we all return together, with our heads held high. Our solidarity made all the difference in the world, for a successful strike.

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee

Jeff Hart will be missed. Some of his co-workers speak about working with him.

IAM Statement

IAM Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge today received a phone call from the Federal Mediator that has been involved in the negotiations between Hawker Beechcraft and the Machinists Union. The Mediator has requested both the IAM Local Lodge 733 and 2328 negotiators and Hawker Beechcraft negotiators in Wichita, KS meet with him to explore options concerning the strike and negotiations.

“The IAM is ready and willing to meet with the Federal Mediator at any time,” said Mr. Eldridge. “On behalf of the IAM Negotiators, I have accepted his request.”

Beginning the Healing Process

When: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 3 PM

Where: Byrd Building, 520 Byrd Street

We will be gathering to share stories in memory of Jeff, and to discuss the tragedy of Monday morning. We are all dealing with the stress and emotions arising from this traumatic incident. This will help cope with the emotions, and deal with and recover from the tragedy’s aftereffects.

Union EAP (Employee Assistance Professionals) will be available to assist with grief counseling. Also, ongoing one-on-one appointments with trained and certified counselors will be available, under the guidance of IAM Community Services Director Maria Cordone from IAM headquarters.

The Union family sticks together, and we grieve together. Be sure to attend, refreshments will be provided.

Attending the services

Services for Jeffrey Hart Thursday are being held at Countryside Christian Church on South Rock Road. The parking may not be ample enough for everyone planning to attend. We're asking everyone to consider forming some car pools on your own, to attend the services. You can use Strike Headquarters if you wish to car pool from.

Please dress appropriately for funeral services. Red strike t-shirts are not appropriate.

Attention: Brothers and Sisters

Local Lodge 733 is asking our brothers and sisters represented by District 70 to help their members so that they can attend Brother Jeff Harts Funeral this Thursday August 21, 2008. View the flyer and if you can help please call Strike Headquarters at 681-1905.

Today's Imail

From today's Imail, the IAM electronic newsletter:

Wichita Striker Killed in Auto Accident

Public services and private remembrances are taking place in Wichita this week for Jeff Hart, a 45-year old father of two who died shortly after being struck by a vehicle early on Monday morning. A member of Local 733, Hart was on his way to join fellow Hawker Beechcraft workers for a rally in support of the strike at HBC.

Hart was crossing the street in front of IAM Strike Headquarters when the accident occurred. Several IAM members, including Mark Huckabee, Joe Cook and his wife Brenda, a registered nurse, provided first aid and performed CPR until police arrived. Unfortunately, Jeff was pronounced dead a short while later.

"Every IAM member is touched and sorrowed by news of this tragedy," said IP Tom Buffenbarger. "Jeff was up before dawn, volunteering his time for his fellow Machinists when he died. I can think of no better way to remember him."

The planned rally and other strike-related activities were cancelled as IAM members in Wichita, who are entering their third week of a strike against Hawker Beechcraft, held prayer vigils and quietly remembered their fallen brother. "The IAM really is a family and at times like this we grieve just as a family would," said Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge, who is coordinating the strike at Hawker Beechcraft. "We are shocked by the sudden and tragic loss of this good man and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Hart, who recently returned to work after open heart surgery, is survived by two children, Rebecca Westerfield and Jared Hart. A memorial fund will be established to provide educational assistance for both children.

"We will mourn, but we will also carry on with the work that Jeff so clearly believed in," said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. "Our resolve to win a fair contract that respects our members and the work they do is stronger than ever."

In Memory

Our blog is black in memory of Jeffrey Hart, until after the memorial service Thursday.

Guest Book at Kansas.com

The Wichita Eagle has set up an online Condolences Book on their website. You can get to it on the strike page on Kansas.com. Please visit and express your words of support to Brother Hart's children and family.

It's a pretty classy thing for the Eagle to do.

Services for Jeffrey R. Hart

A Celebration of Life Services for Jeff Hart will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, at Countryside Christian Church, 1919 S. Rock Road, Wichita, KS.

Jeffrey R. Hart, (May 22, 1963 - August 18, 2008)

Hart, Jeffrey R., age 45, passed away Monday, August 18, 2008, as a result of an accident. The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held 1:00 PM Thursday, at Countryside Christian Church, 1919 S. Rock Road. He is survived by his daughter, Rebekah (Aaron) Westerfield, of Wichita, son, Jared Hart, Manhattan, KS, father, Charles Hart, of Lawrence, KS, mother, Karla Amaro, of Wichita, brother, Scott Hart, of Wichita, sister, Carrie (Sherm) Nichols, of Joplin, MO. A memorial has been established for the children in memory of Jeff and can be left at Watson Funeral Home, 3201 S. Webb Road, Wichita, KS 67210 or Countryside Christian Church.

Go here to sign the Guest Book

IAM Statement: From Machinists Union Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge

The Machinists Union today is mourning the tragic accident that took the life of Jeff Hart, 45, who was struck and killed by a vehicle early this morning while crossing Greenwich Blvd in East Wichita. A two-year IAM member, Mr. Hart was joining fellow Hawker Beechcraft workers to demonstrate solidarity and support for a fair contract.

IAM members, including Mark Huckabee, a Leon, KS, EMT, and fellow member Joe Cook, and his wife, Brenda, a registered nurse, provided CPR and assistance until the police and ambulance arrived. Unfortunately, Jeff was pronounced dead at 6:37 A.M.

The Machinist Union, as well as members who witnessed the accident, are cooperating fully with the Wichita Police Department in the ongoing investigation and we cannot comment further on the accident itself.

Our thoughts and prayers today go out to Jeff's family. Donations are being collected today in every IAM-represented facility in Wichita, 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.

Donations to the family of Jeff Hart

We have received and have confirmed this notice from the Watson Funeral Home. We will post more information as it becomes available. Click on the image for large size.

A little Sunday Afternoon Music for Strikers

To know where we're going, we have to remember where we came from. Stay strong, strikers, and be sure to be out bright and early tomorrow morning for the Hands Across Hawker demonstration. Let's show them how strong we are!

Wichita Eagle Letter to the Editor

From today's paper:

Back strikers

Wichitans should observe, understand and appreciate the efforts of the Machinists union to even the playing field for its members.

As an aerospace engineer with 20 years of experience, half as a direct employee and half as a contractor, I can tell you with absolute conviction that the companies whose engineers are represented by a union would not have the salaries and benefits they now have without the leverage that comes with a bargaining unit.

So support the strike at Hawker Beechcraft. I've worked there, and the mechanics deserve every increase in salary and every enhancement in health benefits that they can negotiate.

Owners Onex Corp. and Goldman Sachs can afford to meet the union's contract requirements.

RICK HALEY

Augusta

Mr. Haley, we appreciate your support, and your willingness to take a stand for your fellow workers. Thank you.

Folks, it's support like this that will help us win our demands and have a successful strike!

From The Mailbag: Stay Strong From A Retired Boeing Member

As a retired employee from Boeing, I want you Hawker union members to know that all the other IAM union locals are backing you 100%. You stay STRONG and continue to trust in your negotiating committee. I've known Steve Rooney for years and he's damn good!
Don't worry about how many people the company says has returned to work. It isn't "business as usual" by any stretch of the imagination. There's no way it could be. The company better worry about the quality of workmanship that's currently being done. They better worry about the FAA and ensuring that the people that they have working all those rejections and squawks they're creating and that they are certified and have the required training. Are the systems folks certified? What about the people sealing? Have they had their training? How about the folks performing electrical bonding? Are they certified? Oh, the list could go on and on....but rest assured......it's anything BUT "business as usual" at HBC.
They offered you folks a crummy contract. It was so pathetic that I considered it an INSULT. But, in your vote you let them know that. What an incredible vote! 90% said NO and 89% said STRIKE. I wish we had had, that kind of strength in solidarity in the strikes I walked for with Boeing. You folks remain proud and strong. Wichita is an aircraft manufacturing city and I'm glad that the "Beech" IAM is FINALLY TAKING A STAND! 1984 was a long time ago.......and YOU PEOPLE NEEDED TO SHOW YOUR STRENGTH. DON'T LET THEM BACK YOU DOWN! DON'T LET THEM DO THAT TO YOU!
Jeanette Baldwin