Connecticut Post

Sikorsky workers feel betrayed
DeLauro: Marine One choice 'doesn't pass the smell test'
By ROB VARNON rvarnon@ctpost.com

Tuesday, February 01, 2005 -

STRATFORD

One member of Teamsters Local 1150 began chanting "USA! USA!" in a packed hall Monday, but his union brothers and sisters refused to pick up the chant during a heated rally whose theme was the betrayal of the American work force for political ends.

The meeting of members of Local 1150, which represents more than 3,000 Sikorsky Aircraft workers, came on the heels of Friday's decision by the U.S. Navy to award the $1.7 billion presidential helicopter contract to a European competitor, AgustaWestland, and its Maryland-based partner, Lockheed Martin. Sikorsky had held the contract since 1957.

Rocco Calo, Local 1150 secretary treasurer, said Sikorsky has guaranteed that no jobs will be lost, which the company confirmed. Calo blamed politics for the decision, saying it was payment to Great Britain and Italy for supporting the Iraq war.

"We, as American workers, need to take a hard look at what happened here," Calo said.

He said Sikorsky's loss should have been obvious because the decision on the contract was delayed at least twice: the first time from mid-2004 to December, after the election; it was then further delayed to a week after President Bush's inauguration.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, who Calo described as the union's "rock, our true champion," was joined in the union hall by Connecticut's two Democratic senators, Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman.

DeLauro said it wasn't Lockheed Martin that won the contract, rather AgustaWestland, an Italian company. She said Lockheed has never built a helicopter and the U.S. company was brought in "to give it a veneer to pass some test. But it doesn't pass the smell test."

Sikorsky's helicopter was called the safest in the world by the Federal Aviation Administration, she said, adding that AgustaWestland's helicopter was grounded by the Canadian government in 2004. She also said that one-third of each helicopter would be made outside the United States at a time when America is highly concerned about security.

"We put safety aside and put politics first," she said.

She said it was unbelievable that Sikorsky helicopters are good enough to carry our soldiers who are fighting and dying in Iraq, but not good enough for the president.

DeLauro received a thunderous ovation from the more than 100 workers in the hall, as did Dodd, who all but declared the beginning of a trade war with Europe.

Dodd said the European Union is about to unveil policies that would require 100 percent of all defense work be done by EU nations. He also pointed out that Italy is being sued by the EU for not allowing any foreign nations to compete for contracts. And for this, Dodd asked, we are going to award them the presidential helicopter?

He said it is time Congress stood up for American workers.

Lieberman, while supporting his colleague's assertions, said that Sikorsky will have the opportunity to land more than 70 Black Hawk helicopters in the upcoming defense bill and is still in the running for an Air Force contract that calls for nearly 200 helicopters. He said despite these contracts' pending status, Sikorsky should protest the award and demand an investigation by the U.S. Government Accounting Office.

Bud Grebey, a Sikorsky spokesman, said the company is awaiting a debriefing by the Navy before it makes any decisions.

DeLauro who promised to offer legislation that will require 100 percent of the president's helicopters to be built in America.

Bob Eleazer, a Naugatuck resident and 17-year Sikorsky veteran, said he was encouraged by the rally and that the state's delegation has always supported its workers and companies.

Max Desruisseaux, another worker, said he felt as if the administration had ripped his heart out.

Rob Varnon, who covers business, can be reached at 330-6216.