USA to replace striking space center workers

[Crewleader]

Union calls plan to hire hundreds of temporary employees a gimmick

BY SCOTT BLAKE
FLORIDA TODAY


Strike updates from Machinists union

United Space Alliance said it plans to hire hundreds of workers to replace members of the Machinists union on strike at Kennedy Space Center since June 14 over failed contract negotiations.

Meanwhile, a letter dated Friday from 23 members of Congress to Michael McCulley, president and chief executive officer of United Space Alliance, encourages the company "to reach an agreement in a timely manner."

The "nation is counting on a continuation" of the productive partnership between the union and the company to "ensure that the remaining shuttle missions are carried out safely and successfully," the letter states. "If we are to transition smoothly from the space shuttle program to the Ares/Orion program, we will need the talents and experience of this workforce."

United Space Alliance spokeswoman Tracy Yates said the company's hiring plan "is not an effort to replace" the strikers permanently "at this time."

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070930/BUSINESS/709300327/1003

[PSPS]

1. Yes, the SPACE SHUTTLE sounds like a good place to seek the lowest bids on everything.

Give the work to one of bush's "qualified" cronies with a background in, say, quarry mining. Then, when the next one blows up in outer space, bush can give him a medal and say he's doing a "heckuva job!"

[NYC]

2. It will be sad if your prediction comes true,

but not terribly surprising.

[madrchsod]

3. there`s a shortage of machinists in this country

everyday there are ads in my newspaper for qualified people in this field...good luck finding "hundreds"