kwch.com/news/kwch-mvs-workers-weigh-strikes-impact-on-family-20121008,0,1030196.story
By Melissa Scheffler
KWCH 12 Eyewitness News
9:39 PM CDT, October 8, 2012
(WICHITA, Kan.)
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Striking Bombardier Learjet worker Austin Wells leaves the picket-line to return to his other job... as a full-time family man.
"We get one more full check. Then, after that, we don't get anything," Austin said.
At least that's the case from the company. However, Austin will get a 150-dollar check from the union starting at the end of week three. But that won't support his growing family of four.
"We also prepared for it... working as often as we could. Doing side jobs, paying our bills ahead of time for this month," Holly Wells, Austin's wife, said.
Austin says he talked about the strike with his wife Holly before he voted yes.... and how it would strain the family's finances.
"Do I want to do that? No. But on the other hand, if you don't stick up for yourself and stick up for what's right, nobody else will for you," Austin said.
For this dad--the reason to strike came with Bombardier's proposal to increase its health insurance costs for its employees.
"Now, they're wanting to element (the) HMO and go with a secondary insurance that was offered," Austin said.
"After his health insurance premiums, us paying that out, he would be making like eight-dollars an hour," Holly said.
The Wells say that would be the same as Austin receiving just one pay check a month. Now, the family is without health insurance, paying out-of-pocket only for the family's necessities.
"His four-month shots are coming up... and we know we have to plan for that," Holly said.
The Wells family's financial plan takes them through January. That's when they say a long-lasting strike could really impact their family.
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