Sabreliner workers reject contract offer, go on strike

Both sides plan to meet today to see if there is room for progress in negotiations.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- They've traded the production line for the picket line.

Carrying signs that say "Saberliner Unfair," 169 workers for the St. Louis-based company's airplane modification company have gone on strike at facilities in Perryville, Ste. Genevieve and St. Mary.

Members of Teamsters Local 600 on Friday rejected a contract offer from Sabreliner Corp., which last saw a Southeast Missouri strike in 1986. The striking workers are made up of aircraft technicians, maintenance mechanics, warehouse personnel, wood and sheet metal workers, painters and janitors.

"We sincerely regret the union members' vote on this contract offer, which we believe was a generous one," said Kevin Dawson, Sabreliner's director of human resources.

The union members are some of the best-compensated hourly employees in Southeast Missouri, he said. Under the final contract offer presented to the union, Sabreliner union employees at the three facilities would earn a median hourly pay of $19.63, with a top pay of $20.76 per hour for the first year of the contract, he said. Those hourly rates would increase 50 cents an hour each year during the four-year contract.

Work is continuing at the facilities, using replacement workers and management, Dawson said.

Union workers, however, feel like the contract isn't in their best interest, said Dan McKay, president of the Teamsters for the eastern half of Missouri.

"We have a different take on it," he said.

Workers voted 112-45 to reject the contract, he said, because employees don't like the part of the new contract that calls for switching from a defined pension plan to a 401(k). Workers also didn't like that new employees hired after the contract's ratification date would never be eligible for the top pay rate. Health-care insurance would also rise under the new contract.

"They just didn't think it was fair," McKay said.

Both sides plan to meet today to see if there is room for progress. But both sides say they are prepared for the long haul.

"It could take some time if someone doesn't budge," McKay said.

Sabreliner agrees.

"While we hope to conclude our negotiations with a signed agreement, we are prepared for all contingencies," Dawson said.

Sabreliner Corp. has been operating in Perryville since 1983, when Sabreliner purchased the business from Rockwell International. Aircraft modifications have been ongoing at the Perryville airport facilities for more than 50 years.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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