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Teamster Negotiators Call Sikorsky’s Bluff About Willingness To Talk
March 3, 2006
(Stratford, Connecticut) – Teamster negotiators returned to
the bargaining table today, sitting across from empty chairs at the Trumbull
Marriott after Sikorsky officials failed to show for a 1 p.m. session.
“We were surprised that Sikorsky was a no-show after the company’s non-stop
rhetoric about wanting to negotiate,” said Rocco J. Calo, Secretary-Treasurer of
Local 1150. “The empty chairs show Sikorsky’s true motive – to try to break the
resolve of striking Teamsters. And that’s a lost cause because Teamsters don’t
back down.”
About 3,600 Teamsters are on strike at Sikorsky, standing united against the
company’s drive to cut health care benefits for its lower-paid workers.
Sikorsky’s unreasonable demands come despite recent soaring revenues and
outrageous compensation paid to the chief executive of Sikorsky’s parent
company, United Technologies.
“This isn’t about money because Sikorsky has plenty,” Calo said. “The company
has said it wants to cut our health care to teach us a financial lesson. That’s
not right and it won’t fly.”
Teamsters understand that health care is a national crisis. That’s why the union
is willing to work with the company by moving money from other economics in the
contract to cover health care.
“Negotiators were prepared to discuss that issue today, but Sikorsky would
rather play games than engage in good-faith bargaining that would get people
back to work,” Calo said.
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