Employees at Sabreliner accept new contract

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Less than a week after Sabreliner employees in three Southeast Missouri facilities went on strike, members of Teamsters Local 600 voted to accept a contract that will send the 165 employees back to work after Labor Day.

The vote was 100 to 65 to accept the new contract for the employees at the company's facilities in Perryville, St. Mary and Ste. Genevieve.

The striking employees, including aircraft technicians, maintenance mechanics, warehouse personnel, wood and sheet metal workers, painters and janitors are expected to return to work on Tuesday.

Union members rejected a contract offer on Aug. 26 and began the strike at midnight that night.

"We are very pleased the union members followed the unanimous recommendation of the union's bargaining team and voted to approve this contract," said Kevin Dawson, director of human resources for Sabreliner Corp.

"We look forward to welcoming them back next week as they resume their work."

Under the terms of the approved contract, Sabreliner union employees at the three facilities will earn a base median hourly pay of $19.63, with a base top pay of $20.76 per hour for the first year of the contract.

Those hourly rates will increase 50 cents an hour each year during the four-year contract.

In addition, the contract contains lead and shift differentials which can increase the base pay by up to 90 cents an hour for qualifying employees.

Union officials could not be reached for comment.