AP Newsbreak: Sikorsky says it will move some operations out of state during strike
STAMFORD, Conn. --Sikorsky Aircraft has hired temporary workers and will move some operations out of state during a strike by nearly 3,600 Teamsters that is in its third week, a company spokesman told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Bud Grebey, a spokesman for the Stratford-based helicopter-maker, would not say where the company would move operations. Sikorsky has other facilities in New York, Pennsylvania and Alabama.
"We have not hired permanent replacement workers, but the contingency plan is prepared to do so should we get to that point," Grebey said. "As the strike continues, we're going to increase using those suppliers and Sikorsky facilities outside of Connecticut."
Grebey's comments marked the first time Sikorsky has confirmed it is prepared to hire replacement workers if necessary. The company has shared its plan with its customers, Grebey said.
"They know that should this turn out to be a long strike that contingency plan will bring us to full capacity," Grebey said.
Sikorsky will accelerate the expansion of operations out of state next week, Grebey said. He would not say how many temporary workers have been hired or when the company would consider hiring replacement workers.
Workers have been on strike since Feb. 20 over proposed increases to employees' health insurance contributions in the company's contract offer. It is the first strike at the company since 1963.
Harvey Jackson, president of Teamsters Local 1150, said the company needs the striking workers to build the helicopters. He said workers are not worried about replacement workers and are confident the state's congressional delegation would not tolerate a relocation of work out of state.
"We already know that is not going to happen," he said.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said Sikorsky's announcement shows the need to resume negotiations and reach a compromise. She also said she believed replacing the striking workers would be difficult.
"They're so highly skilled, replacing that expertise does not seem to make sense," DeLauro said.
U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., whose district includes Stratford, added, "If this is true, in light of the fact that the company won't even come to the table, this is almost a declaration of war on the union and is very unsettling."
Sikorsky's announcement came on the same day that Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa led a rally of striking workers in Stratford. He said the Teamsters would not back down from their fight.
"It's incredible the lack of gratitude," Hoffa said. "We work with this company to try and get good jobs in America and they repay us by corporate greed, by trying to take away from the people that are making the helicopters."
Sikorsky proposed doubling workers' contributions to their health insurance in the first year of a three-year deal and increasing them another 15 percent over the next two years.
Under the expired contract, the workers paid about $26 per week for family coverage, both sides said.
The striking workers make about $65,000 annually with overtime and were offered a $2,000 ratification bonus, 3.5 percent annual pay raises and pension improvements, the company says. Sikorsky agreed to delay implementing the health care changes until next year.
Sikorsky, a unit of
UTC Chief Executive Officer George David said last week that the company will "stand firm" at the helicopter-maker because workers throughout UTC's other divisions have agreed to the same kind of health care cost-sharing that is now the focal point of a dispute with Sikorsky workers.
