Members vote on Onex contract offer

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Engineers, technical and professional workers at the <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=Onex">Onex</a></b> Corporation's

Wednesday, July 6th 2005, 7:03 am

By: News On 6

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Engineers, technical and professional workers at the Onex Corporation's Mid-Western Aircraft Systems are voting today on separate contract offers that include wage increases, as well as some cutbacks in benefits.

Mid-Western Aircraft is the new company Onex formed to operate the commercial aircraft plants in Tulsa, McAlester, and Wichita, Kansas. Onex purchased the plants from Boeing last month and has had mixed success in negotiating contracts with workers.

Boeing had eight labor contracts with the seven unions representing workers affected by the sale of its commercial aircraft operations in Tulsa, McAlester, and Wichita.

Last week, members of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America locals in Tulsa and McAlester rejected a contract offer that cut their pay by 10 percent.