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"If they want us to give them something, we'll give them a strike," declared Eastern Territory General Vice President Lynn D. Tucker Jr. who led hundreds of union members to the streets of downtown Hartford, Connecticut to rally for healthcare. GVP Tucker, joined by General Vice President Robert V. Thayer, came to Hartford to support IAM Local Lodge 743/District 26 members who are in negotiations with Hamilton Sundstrand, a unit of United Technologies Corporation (UTC). Standing in front of the 'Gold Building', headquarters to UTC, GVP Tucker told the huge crowd that UTC should be ashamed to ask those who have worked so hard and for so long to gave back what they rightfully earned. "We'll win," he declared "because we're right". "This isn't just the Machinists Union's fight, but everyone's fight, in Connecticut and across the country" said District 26 Directing Business Representative Everett Corey . "This fight has become a war and they're find we'll fight for jobs and healthcare," he declared. Pointing out the $11.1 million UTC Chairman and CEO George David made in compensation in 2003, GVP Thayer said it was unconscionable that David would be asking workers to give back. "We're the 'Fighting Machinists' and there'll be no concessions in jobs or healthcare," he said. According to statements by IAM Chief Negotiator James Parent, UTC must withdraw their contract proposals to take away retirees' medical and life insurance benefits and work with the Machinists Union in finding ways to provide affordable quality health care for their workers. "Shifting the cost to the workers is not the solution to this country's health care crisis," he said.
The contract between the IAM and Hamilton
Sundstrand expires on May 2, 2004.
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MACHINISTS
RALLY FOR HEALTH CARE
