Press conference video of Hawker-Beechcraft closing in Salina
Opening Remarks at Salina Hawker-Beechcraft closing press conference. Tim Rogers, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority.
Randy Duncan comments on Hawker-Beechcraft closing in Salina
Dennis Lauver comments on Hawker-Beechcraft closing in Salina
City Manager Jason Gage comments on Hawker-Beechcraft closing in Salina
Rep. Deena Horst, R-Salina comments on Hawker-Beechcraft closing in Salina
Final Remarks at Salina Hawker-Beechcraft closing press conferenceLatest Headlines:
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Hawker to close Salina plant
11/9/2009
TIM UNRUH
Machinist Union workers at Hawker Beechcraft were told Monday morning that the Salina plant is closing, but no specific times were set.
Salina and Saline County officials informed the media Friday morning that the airplane maker intends to close its Salina operations, and that its lease of 10 buildings near the municipal airport in west Salina will expire Feb. 28, 2012.
The decision to close is “one we regret,” said Tim Rogers, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority, at a Monday morning news conference attended by city and Saline County representatives and Rep. Deena Horst, R-Salina. Rogers promised to work with Hawker Beechcraft to achieve a “smooth transition.”
Local leaders referred to the news as difficult, but vowed to make the best of it, by working hard to replace some 238 jobs lost with the closing of the company’s Salina plant.
Officials with the International Aerospace Machinist Union informed members of Local 2328, Salina, Monday morning.
Since 1966, when the company first leased space at the former Schilling Air Force Base, employment at times exceeded 800, Rogers said. The Salina plant that makes components for airplanes operated under other names, such as Beechcraft and Raytheon.
The remaining Hawker Beechcraft workers were unsure Monday morning when the plant would close, and how many and where those jobs would be headed.
At the press conference, Rogers suggested a call to Hawker Beechcraft.
“What the company put out was they are closing the Salina plant. There is no timeline. There are other factors that have to be worked out, but it will not be Friday,” said Pat Maxey, a local union negotiator. A sheet metal assembler, he has worked 18 years in Salina.
Read more about the plant closure later today and in Tuesday's Salina Journal.
Join the Discussion:
Salina.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here. Read our full online terms of service policy.
Tight Wallet says....
In Salina, the reduced patronage is caused by the economy and demographics not the over-reaching laws. For most citizens of Salina the bars are not a necessity thus when money gets tight the money spent on entertainment gets reduced. Isn’t that what bars are for; entertainment? Also, why spend $5.50 for 2 bottles of beer in a bar when I can buy six for $5.50 at a liquor store? I bet if the bars would offer 88 cent bottles of beer their sales would go up; just a thought. Do the math, if it costs more to put food on the table, gas in the car, or pay your bills then there is less disposable income to spend on drinking in bars. Reduced patronage is related to demographics and the economy. In effect, increased patronage equates to more younger single people with money to throw around. Answer this; how many bars have closed in Lawrence since 2004 when it’s smoking ban went into effect? That city has just as restrictive smoking ban as Salina and I bet that I can deduce that the bars there are still going strong. I would be willing to wager that if the ban was lifted tomorrow the number of troubled bars would still be the same. People, smokers and non-smokers, just aren’t throwing money around these days.
11/10/2009
Mediaman says....
The reason Salina has so many gas stations and fast food places is because people travel through Salina on their way to better paying jobs. If salina had something to offer maybe people would stop and stay. But lets focus on the hundreds that are without jobs in Salina! If the Mayor, City Counsel and the C of C are not careful there will be nothing left of importance(companies)
11/10/2009
SAL says....
LITTLE TO LATE?
11/9/2009
good company says....
how do they come up wiyh 238 jobs. what about the ones that are already layed off with no job to go to. must not count.thanks mexico.
11/9/2009
says says....
how many more jobs can we move to mexico. they say 238 but what about the ones that are layed off already with no jobs to go to. guess our city dads don't want to talk about that.good old salina.
11/9/2009
Tuns Tavern says....
Yeah I'm sure Bush personally made the decision to close HBC at Salina. What are you going to do three years from now still blame everything on Bush. Give it a break. Do you ever read what you type. Not to worry, I'm sure your community organizer will save these jobs to. As for the one that doesn't like this "stinkhole" of a town. Can I help you pack???? Have you ever done anything for this country besides complain? If you are directly affected by today's news. Hang in there. When one door closes another one opens. If you get laid off take some extra time with your family and friends.
11/9/2009
sick of outsourcing says....
It was not because of the strike!!!Its because they would rather pay someone $2.40 an hour and build it wrong than pay us what they do to build it right!!! I think i'll stay on the ground.
11/9/2009
says....
Way to go county commissioners.....No where to work in Salina except at a gas station or a fast food place..way to go!!Have u not noticed already how many houses are 4 sale in town? No need to do a census ...there isnt going to be anyone left in town and the ones who are their homes value is about to take a dive
11/9/2009
sick of outsourcing says....
I think its crazy that all of our jobs keep leaving for cheaper labor..but hey sooner or later there products will have to come down in price because no-one will be able to afford to buy anything because we will all be jobless!!
11/9/2009
Net Reader says....
I've never worked at Beech (under ANY of its many owners!) but I'm fairly certain that the closing announced today had absolutely zilch to do with the strike last year. It's the economy, and the closing of this plant has been coming for a long time. I'm appalled, however, that the "city fathers" have stated that they want to try hard to "replace 238 jobs". Good grief - that's the number of employees that are LEFT after the company hacked and sawed away at their employee base that was better than 500 strong a year ago. Trust me - those 260+ people are, for the most part, STILL out of work or underemployed. Those nameless "local leaders" in this story need to put their well-paid, well-heeled noses to the grindstone and work at replacing a whale of a lot more than 238 jobs!
11/9/2009
Laid off Hawker Worker! says....
What amazes me is that all you hear about is the current 200+ employees that will be losing their jobs what about the other 250 or so that have already lost there job here in Salina, what have you done for them. I see nothing happening for those folks but now that Hawker is leaving it is a oh woe is me attitude for the ones that are left. Thanks Salina for all you do.
11/9/2009
STILL EMPLOYED says....
I'm sure all of their demands were met thanks to the strike. Decent benefits and a paycheck or outstanding benefits and the unemployment line....
11/9/2009
Maverick says....
No representatives from Hawker Beechcraft at the news conference? How pitiful. Corporations that send jobs to other countries to avoid taxes and wages associated with a living standard that supplied the productive and diverse middle class of America for over 50 years should be ashamed. They won’t. They will however continue to shake-down American communities for substantial long term tax abatement as well as other economic incentives. Tax incentive programs structured by city governments to entice corporations to maintain residence in communities should be scrutinized for all the hidden cost structures involved. One local press release today quoted a $424,231 rent payment by Hawker Beechcraft in a calendar year. Salina should also learn what incentives were provided to Hawker Beechcraft by Salina in the past and incentives now being offered by Wichita. This is a significant economic loss to Salina.
11/9/2009
AtPeaceInColorado says....
Sure glad I left the Salina area years ago. 238 good paying jobs lost forever, but since the town fathers never wanted good paying jobs to have to compete with, they will expect a few more fast food joints to take care of the unemployment. Let's hear it for the Mayor, City Counsel and the C of C.
11/9/2009
says....
Thank God the union is here to protect those jobs...maybe a strike will give Beech time to rethink this
11/9/2009
Proud Union Member and Former Hawker worker. says....
Good luck replacing those jobs! Seems the most the leaders of this city can bring to town is something for less then 8 dollars per hour. I bet they won't even be able to bring jobs that start anywhere close to the entry level pay at Hawker. Salina will never learn. Sorry to my fellow Hawker folks to see it go so many years here.
11/9/2009
says....
Closing Salina has nothing to do with the STRIKE, get past that idea!
11/9/2009
Strider says....
Remind Grandma that Clinton (D) signed NAFTA not Bush
11/9/2009
salina home owner says....
It makes a person wonder how much of this was due to the economy and how much was due to the strike. Now maybe Salina will think about getting someone else in here factory wise to create more jobs and it not being a clothing store.
11/9/2009
Grandma says....
Be sure to send President Bush & Co. for making sure your jobs were lost . You betcha!!!!!
11/9/2009
says....
How nice that all these people got together just to let us know that Salina is going to be ok. How insensitive can the city of Salina be,once again, towards all of the families employed at Salina HBC? Can't wait to leave this town stinkhole town!
11/9/2009
Salina.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here. Read our full online terms of service policy.
Bobbie Wilson says....
I can't help but think an era has ended. My family moved to Salina in 1966 so that my dad, Bob Wilson, could open the Beech plant in Salina. I am deeply affected by this as Beech was the livelihood of our family. My parents, both now retired, worked hard for the company. It hurts my heart that all the years I grew up in and around Beech are now just a memory.
11/11/2009
Tight Wallet says....
In Salina, the reduced patronage is caused by the economy and demographics not the over-reaching laws. For most citizens of Salina the bars are not a necessity thus when money gets tight the money spent on entertainment gets reduced. Isn’t that what bars are for; entertainment? Also, why spend $5.50 for 2 bottles of beer in a bar when I can buy six for $5.50 at a liquor store? I bet if the bars would offer 88 cent bottles of beer their sales would go up; just a thought. Do the math, if it costs more to put food on the table, gas in the car, or pay your bills then there is less disposable income to spend on drinking in bars. Reduced patronage is related to demographics and the economy. In effect, increased patronage equates to more younger single people with money to throw around. Answer this; how many bars have closed in Lawrence since 2004 when it’s smoking ban went into effect? That city has just as restrictive smoking ban as Salina and I bet that I can deduce that the bars there are still going strong. I would be willing to wager that if the ban was lifted tomorrow the number of troubled bars would still be the same. People, smokers and non-smokers, just aren’t throwing money around these days.
11/10/2009
Mediaman says....
The reason Salina has so many gas stations and fast food places is because people travel through Salina on their way to better paying jobs. If salina had something to offer maybe people would stop and stay. But lets focus on the hundreds that are without jobs in Salina! If the Mayor, City Counsel and the C of C are not careful there will be nothing left of importance(companies)
11/10/2009
SAL says....
LITTLE TO LATE?
11/9/2009
good company says....
how do they come up wiyh 238 jobs. what about the ones that are already layed off with no job to go to. must not count.thanks mexico.
11/9/2009
says says....
how many more jobs can we move to mexico. they say 238 but what about the ones that are layed off already with no jobs to go to. guess our city dads don't want to talk about that.good old salina.
11/9/2009
Tuns Tavern says....
Yeah I'm sure Bush personally made the decision to close HBC at Salina. What are you going to do three years from now still blame everything on Bush. Give it a break. Do you ever read what you type. Not to worry, I'm sure your community organizer will save these jobs to. As for the one that doesn't like this "stinkhole" of a town. Can I help you pack???? Have you ever done anything for this country besides complain? If you are directly affected by today's news. Hang in there. When one door closes another one opens. If you get laid off take some extra time with your family and friends.
11/9/2009
sick of outsourcing says....
It was not because of the strike!!!Its because they would rather pay someone $2.40 an hour and build it wrong than pay us what they do to build it right!!! I think i'll stay on the ground.
11/9/2009
says....
Way to go county commissioners.....No where to work in Salina except at a gas station or a fast food place..way to go!!Have u not noticed already how many houses are 4 sale in town? No need to do a census ...there isnt going to be anyone left in town and the ones who are their homes value is about to take a dive
11/9/2009
sick of outsourcing says....
I think its crazy that all of our jobs keep leaving for cheaper labor..but hey sooner or later there products will have to come down in price because no-one will be able to afford to buy anything because we will all be jobless!!
11/9/2009
Net Reader says....
I've never worked at Beech (under ANY of its many owners!) but I'm fairly certain that the closing announced today had absolutely zilch to do with the strike last year. It's the economy, and the closing of this plant has been coming for a long time. I'm appalled, however, that the "city fathers" have stated that they want to try hard to "replace 238 jobs". Good grief - that's the number of employees that are LEFT after the company hacked and sawed away at their employee base that was better than 500 strong a year ago. Trust me - those 260+ people are, for the most part, STILL out of work or underemployed. Those nameless "local leaders" in this story need to put their well-paid, well-heeled noses to the grindstone and work at replacing a whale of a lot more than 238 jobs!
11/9/2009
Laid off Hawker Worker! says....
What amazes me is that all you hear about is the current 200+ employees that will be losing their jobs what about the other 250 or so that have already lost there job here in Salina, what have you done for them. I see nothing happening for those folks but now that Hawker is leaving it is a oh woe is me attitude for the ones that are left. Thanks Salina for all you do.
11/9/2009
STILL EMPLOYED says....
I'm sure all of their demands were met thanks to the strike. Decent benefits and a paycheck or outstanding benefits and the unemployment line....
11/9/2009
Maverick says....
No representatives from Hawker Beechcraft at the news conference? How pitiful. Corporations that send jobs to other countries to avoid taxes and wages associated with a living standard that supplied the productive and diverse middle class of America for over 50 years should be ashamed. They won’t. They will however continue to shake-down American communities for substantial long term tax abatement as well as other economic incentives. Tax incentive programs structured by city governments to entice corporations to maintain residence in communities should be scrutinized for all the hidden cost structures involved. One local press release today quoted a $424,231 rent payment by Hawker Beechcraft in a calendar year. Salina should also learn what incentives were provided to Hawker Beechcraft by Salina in the past and incentives now being offered by Wichita. This is a significant economic loss to Salina.
11/9/2009
AtPeaceInColorado says....
Sure glad I left the Salina area years ago. 238 good paying jobs lost forever, but since the town fathers never wanted good paying jobs to have to compete with, they will expect a few more fast food joints to take care of the unemployment. Let's hear it for the Mayor, City Counsel and the C of C.
11/9/2009
says....
Thank God the union is here to protect those jobs...maybe a strike will give Beech time to rethink this
11/9/2009
Proud Union Member and Former Hawker worker. says....
Good luck replacing those jobs! Seems the most the leaders of this city can bring to town is something for less then 8 dollars per hour. I bet they won't even be able to bring jobs that start anywhere close to the entry level pay at Hawker. Salina will never learn. Sorry to my fellow Hawker folks to see it go so many years here.
11/9/2009
says....
Closing Salina has nothing to do with the STRIKE, get past that idea!
11/9/2009
Strider says....
Remind Grandma that Clinton (D) signed NAFTA not Bush
11/9/2009
salina home owner says....
It makes a person wonder how much of this was due to the economy and how much was due to the strike. Now maybe Salina will think about getting someone else in here factory wise to create more jobs and it not being a clothing store.
11/9/2009
Grandma says....
Be sure to send President Bush & Co. for making sure your jobs were lost . You betcha!!!!!
11/9/2009
says....
How nice that all these people got together just to let us know that Salina is going to be ok. How insensitive can the city of Salina be,once again, towards all of the families employed at Salina HBC? Can't wait to leave this town stinkhole town!
11/9/2009
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