January 18, 2009 11:00 AM
Brothers and Sisters at
GKN,
The below Press Release was issued just before noon Sunday, January 186, 2009.
IAMAW District 837
212 Utz Lane
Hazelwood, MO 63042
Contact: Thomas Pinski
314-731-0603 ext. 123
e:mail: dl837comm@sbcglobal.net
Press Release: For Immediate Release January
18, 2009 11:00 AM
-Begin-
IAMAW District 837 Machinists Vote To Accept
Latest GKN Contract
At a special contract ratification meeting on
Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 10:00 A. M., Machinists employed at GKN
Aerospace – St. Louis, MO voted to accept the Company’s latest contract
proposal by a vote of 691 to Accept and 87 to Reject.
“I am
proud of the professional manner in which our members acted these past
few months,” said Gordon King – District 837’s President and Chief
Negotiator. “Your strength in the shop enabled your Bargaining Committee
to act with one unified voice and it paid off. The three year contract
you accepted will allow each of you to move forward in these uncertain
economic times with an assurance your pay and benefits will be there
every week.”
The 966
members rejected GKN’s previous offer on January 11, 2009 which sent the
Negotiating Teams back to the table to hammer out the issues.
Significant changes between the previously rejected proposal and the one
accepted on January 18 include: increased pension benefits, removal of
the change to overtime compensation rules and a return to previous
language, and retention of most previously offered benefits.
With the solidarity and unity of the membership giving the
Negotiating Committee the power they needed to return to the table this
week, I am pleased we were able to offer the members a contract they can
be proud of,” declared Mark Blondin – IAMAW Aerospace Coordinator. “You
soundly rejected a takeaway contract last week and you overwhelming
accepted today’s contract proving that your voice is heard through
collective bargaining and the power of one voice.”
Gordon King
President Directing Business Representative