Pratt & Whitney Machinists Ratify Agreement

More than 4,100 IAM members who work at jet-engine maker Pratt & Whitney (P&W) in Connecticut voted overwhelmingly this week to ratify a three-year contract that contains annual pay raises of 3.5 percent and a 16 percent improvement in pension benefits.  The contract also provides a $3,000 bonus and significant protections for nearly 900 electricians, plumbers, machine repair workers and other support employees not previously covered by the agreement’s job security language.

The lack of job security language led to an overwhelming rejection of an earlier offer by the IAM members at P&W plants in Cheshire, East Hartford and Middletown, CT. The new agreement, which replaces a contract that was set to expire at midnight December 2, was approved by a vote of 2,831 to 326.

“The major gain was job security,” said IAM Chief Negotiator Jim Parent, Assistant DBR of District 26, who explained the agreement also guarantees that the work for the military's Joint Strike Fighter and several other major projects will be done in Connecticut. “Now that we protected that work, we can look to grow jobs here in Connecticut.”

“The members put Pratt & Whitney on notice when these talks opened,” said Eastern Territory GVP Lynn D. Tucker, Jr. “They held firm until they had a contract that reflected the recent surge in jet engine production. Congratulations to District 26 DBR Everett Corey, ADBR Jim Parent and the entire bargaining committee.”