HURST, TEXAS -
United Aerospace Workers Local 218 went on strike for the first time in 22 years.
And frowned upon those who crossed the picket line.
One picketer yelled, "Hey they taking my insurance. You're taking jobs away from our kids."
This morning, union workers were dispatched to the eight Bell Helicopter plants in the area. The sticking points are out sourcing janitorial work and higher health care premiums and out of pocket costs.
As a sole provider, with a wife and three children Randy Spivey says that eats up the $10,000 raise. He says, "I would go from my cost paying 80 dollars a month to 300 a month."
Producing parts for the V 22 Osprey is the largest government project here. Final Assembly is done in Canada and Amarillo where the positions are not unionized. Bell Helicopter says it has enough parts to get them through the end of 2009 and production will be largely unaffected.
Bell Helicopter would not go on camera today, only saying they are currently hiring. UAW Local 218 says members are not worried because it won't be that easy to find qualified workers.
Union Chairman Tom Wells says, "You're just not going to go out in the street in find somebody who knows how to bond the wings on a V 22 it ain't going to happen."
Carolyn Bowen says, "I'm not worried. I just heard there were two people in there laying up parts or trying to so in my department that's what I heard." And usually there's how many? She replies, "hmmm, I'd say probably 50."
Members say they'll be out here as long as it takes.
One picketer yelled, "Hey they taking my insurance. You're taking jobs away from our kids."
This morning, union workers were dispatched to the eight Bell Helicopter plants in the area. The sticking points are out sourcing janitorial work and higher health care premiums and out of pocket costs.
As a sole provider, with a wife and three children Randy Spivey says that eats up the $10,000 raise. He says, "I would go from my cost paying 80 dollars a month to 300 a month."
Producing parts for the V 22 Osprey is the largest government project here. Final Assembly is done in Canada and Amarillo where the positions are not unionized. Bell Helicopter says it has enough parts to get them through the end of 2009 and production will be largely unaffected.
Bell Helicopter would not go on camera today, only saying they are currently hiring. UAW Local 218 says members are not worried because it won't be that easy to find qualified workers.
Union Chairman Tom Wells says, "You're just not going to go out in the street in find somebody who knows how to bond the wings on a V 22 it ain't going to happen."
Carolyn Bowen says, "I'm not worried. I just heard there were two people in there laying up parts or trying to so in my department that's what I heard." And usually there's how many? She replies, "hmmm, I'd say probably 50."
Members say they'll be out here as long as it takes.
