Bell, UAW Local 218 Fail to Reach Deal

Contract proposal rejected by Bell employees Sunday morning

Negotiations between the workers union and Bell Helicopter hit a standstill on Sunday morning, but it’s unclear if that will translate into a strike involving up to 2,500 hourly workers at the company’s Hurst location.

A vast majority of United Auto Workers Local 218 members voted to reject a three-year contract proposal offered by Bell.

The current contract expires at midnight Monday, though it would be up to the union leaders to formally declare a strike.

According to a posting on the union website, 85 percent of union voters did not vote in favor of Bell’s proposed deal.

Local 218 members on the ground told NBC DFW on Sunday that they were planning to go to work on Monday morning, and to do their jobs without a contract.

Bell employees also told NBC DFW late this week that a major issue in the new contract involved the elimination of several positions.

Those same employees claim that would mean the end at least 200 union jobs.

Bell's CEO has said a reduction in staff was caused by a reduction in orders for some military aircraft.

Hourly workers at Bell last declared a strike in 2009.

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