Posted on: Tuesday, November 2, 2004

Work stoppage hits Raytheon

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Seven unionized Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems workers at the West Loch Naval Installation walked off the job yesterday over proposed salary cuts and frustration over months of stalled negotiations for their first labor contract.

The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers union characterized yesterday's action as a "work stoppage" because the workers had not taken a strike authorization vote.

"They went to work this morning (yesterday) and decided among themselves that they were frustrated," said Maria Santiago Lillis, the union's grand lodge representative. "As far as we see it, this is protected activity so they should not experience any repercussions as a result."

Asked how long the workers plan to stay away from work, Lillis said, "we'll take it a day at a time. It depends on how the company responds."

Raytheon officials did not return calls seeking comment.

The union has been in contract talks with Raytheon since July 2002, but since April has been negotiating through federal mediator Carol Catanzariti, Lillis said.

"They refused to fly to Hawai'i and meet with us in person to expedite resolution of these issues," Lillis said.

The union at one time represented 18 out of 50 employees at the West Loch facility, but membership has fallen as workers have quit, Lillis said.

The current unionized workers are material coordinators, electromechanical technicians, field engineers, electronic technicians and engineering technicians.

Raytheon has proposed salary cuts for most of the positions, such as field engineers whose wages would be reduced by $4 an hour, Lillis said.

At the same time, she said, "I have two drawers filled with unfair labor practices (complaints). The union has prevailed in the vast majority of the cases and has only lost one out of many, many, many."

Reach Dan Nakaso at 525-8085 or at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.