Atlantis Shuttle Workers Reject Contract

CFNews 13's David Waters reported from Cape Canaveral Sunday morning that United Space Alliance (U.S.A) made an offer that about 570 shuttle workers rejected Saturday morning.

Workers are asking for more pay and better benefits. In an interview with CFNews 13, a spokesperson for U.S.A., Tracy Yates, said, "We felt our final offer was very fair, competitive and responsive."

The International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers represents the shuttle workers at the Kennedy Space Center.

Union Leader, John Walker said, "I think they know where we're at.....They failed to meet our needs."

According to CFNews 13, Yates said, "We will be able to launch and land if there is a strike." The strike, set for next weekend, is two days after the launch of space shuttle Atlantis.

Walker responded: "The qualifications our guys have...takes years to get. If the company thinks they can do that, I'm concerned about that."

Space shuttle Atlantis was the fourth shuttle to be built. Atlantis started flying back in October of 1985. It has been a great asset to NASA. It has deployed planetary probes, the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, delivered a docking module to Mir, the Russian space station.

Atlantis has been used to exchange astronauts. NASA has used it to deploy a 6 man crew to the International Space Station where space walks were performed.

The launch scheduled for June 8th was originally set for February, but had to be delayed due to hail damage.

After a mission to the Hubble Space Telescope in 2008, Atlantis is scheduled for retirement.

According to CFNews 13, the astronauts are scheduled to arrive at the Kennedy Space Station on Tuesday evening. Countdown to the launch begins Wednesday. Launch is set for 7:38 pm, Friday night.

Source: CFNews 13, David Waters; Shuttle Workers Planning to Strike