Teamsters who recently concluded a six-week strike at Sikorsky Aircraft returned to picket lines briefly Wednesday to protest outside a shareholder meeting of Sikorsky's parent company, United Technologies Corp.
About 3,500 Teamsters began returning to work last week after voting 1,488-1,416 to accept a contract that contained the same health care cost-sharing plan the union had previously said was unacceptable.
Dozens of union members rallied in front of the shareholders meeting at Carnegie Hall with some exercising their rights as shareholders by attending the meeting. The union said that negotiations with United Technologies left bitterness after a close vote to approve the contract offer and that it will continue to raise the issue of health care at protests.
"We need affordable health care and they refuse to offer it," said Harvey Jackson, president of the Teamster's Local 1150. "The shareholders can expect to see the Teamsters wherever they go."
UTC Chairman George David has said that the company would "stand firm" on the issue because workers throughout UTC's other divisions have agreed to the same kind of health care cost-sharing. Sikorsky said its health care costs this year would be more than $16,000 per employee for family coverage, up from $9,800 four years ago.
Some of the union members said they intended to voice their concerns at the meeting. They vowed to continue fighting Sikorsky's attempts to increase employees' share of health insurance costs.
"As a stockholder myself, I want to see the stock do well but I also want to see them treat people well," said Rocco Calo, the local's secretary-treasurer.
The contract approved earlier this month includes a $3,000 ratification bonus, 3.5 percent annual pay raises, pension improvements and the option for workers to select retroactive health care coverage and reimbursement for payments they may have made for temporary insurance while on strike.
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