Employees at former Salina plant left without severance pay

SALINA, Kan. - It has been two and a half years since Hawker Beechcraft announced they would cease operations at its Salina plant.

"It was like someone took the air our of you. We knew it, we knew it for years. But, it was like that's it, we're done," said Kathy Olson, former Salina Hawker Beechcraft employee.

To make it easier, employees were told they would receive a severance package if they continued working until the plant closed.

Now seven former Salina employees have come forward saying they still haven't received part of the benefits they were promised - the 25 percent bonus of their annual salary.

"You stay until the bitter end and that's what you receive."

One reason the delay is upsetting these former workers is the $5.3 million Hawker wants to pay to eight senior executives in the company.

A federal judge has yet to decide on that issue in bankruptcy court.

"It's devastating because we spend our lives out there."

Former employees point to emails from January of this year sent to human resources personnel and the general manager of aircraft manufacturing, Rod Holter.

The emails ask why the severance bonus check which average less than $20,000 each haven't been paid.

Holter responded saying, "This will be accomplished as promised. Joni is on board, and I thank you for bringing this to my attention."

But, employees say they still haven't received that money and hope that the company will honor their promise made in 2010.

"You come in and change peoples lives, do right by them. If you say you know I'm going to do this, then that's what you should do."

We reached out to Hawker Beechcraft but management wouldn't elaborate on the matter.

They sent us the following statement:

"We take these accusations seriously. However, we do not comment on specific personnel matters."

The Salina plant closed its doors for good at the end of February.

The workers say that they're not planning on filing a lawsuit.