WICHITA — Larry Shively liked what he saw as he thumbed through the proposed labor contract just minutes before he and other Machinists union members were to vote Wednesday on whether to accept it.
“I’ve been here 25 years and I’ve seen three strikes,” he said. “This is one of the best contracts I’ve seen.”
With contract talks every three years, Shively said he always is prepared for a strike. But he was relieved when he heard the first news reports that union leaders were recommending adoption of the new contract.
.fa_inline_results, .fa_inline_results.left {
margin-right: 20px;
margin-top: 0;
width: 220px;
clear: left;
}
.fa_inline_results.right {
margin-left: 20px;
margin-right: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results h4 {
margin: 0;
font-size: 8pt;
line-height: 12px;
padding-bottom: 4px;
border-bottom: 1px dotted #c3d2dc;
}
.fa_inline_results ul {
list-style-type: disc;
list-style-position: inside;
color: #3769DD;
margin: 0 0 15px;
padding: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li.title {
color: #333;
list-style-type: none;
font-weight: bold;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li.articles {
color: #333;
list-style-type: none;
}
.fa_inline_results, .fa_inline_results.left {
margin-right: 20px;
margin-top: 0;
width: 220px;
clear: left;
}
.fa_inline_results.right {
margin-left: 20px;
margin-right: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results h4 {
margin: 0;
font-size: 8pt;
line-height: 12px;
padding-bottom: 4px;
border-bottom: 1px dotted #c3d2dc;
}
.fa_inline_results ul {
list-style-type: disc;
list-style-position: inside;
color: #3769DD;
margin: 0 0 15px;
padding: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li.title {
color: #333;
list-style-type: none;
font-weight: bold;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li.articles {
color: #333;
list-style-type: none;
}
He appeared to have a lot of company. Thousands of Wichita union members came to the Kansas Coliseum to hear union leaders explain the contract point by point before they voted. The leaders often were interrupted by raucous applause as they went through the lengthy contract.
Many of the benefits far exceeded what workers had expected. Most workers already knew the company had agreed to keep paying their entire health insurance premium, but cheered when they heard the extent of the improved medical benefits.