Oklahoma workers vote on Onex labor agreement

Union workers from the former Boeing plant in Tulsa are voting on the best and final contract offer from the <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=Onex">Onex</a></b>

Thursday, June 30th 2005, 6:11 am

By: News On 6

Union workers from the former Boeing plant in Tulsa are voting on the best and final contract offer from the Onex Corporation.

Onex completed its buyout of the plants in Wichita, Tulsa, and McAlester earlier in June.

Turnout was heavy at the union hall. The vote involves about 700 workers in Tulsa. The offer has a 10-percent pay cut. And higher health costs. On the plus side, workers would get stock in the new company, but the mood at the hall looked grim.

Union member Terry Shannon: "I don't think it was a very good offer. I don't know how they came to the conclusion that it was a best and final offer. Maybe they need to understand what best means."

Pay increases would be phased in, but it would take workers five years to get back to where they were. The deal does "not" include hiring back any of the laid-off Boeing workers.

Union workers in Wichita, Kansas recently voted on their contract offer and 89-percent of the employees favored it. Onex is hoping for the same at their Oklahoma plants.