Local Lodges 610 & 2786 complete negotiations with Lockheed
Martin
for the east and west coast launch operations
On Wednesday, April 28, 2004 Local
Lodge 610 of District Lodge 166 in Cape Canaveral Florida and
Local Lodge 2786 in Santa Maria California concluded
negotiations with Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Launch
Operations for the facilities at the Kennedy Space Center and
Cape Canaveral in Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California. These negotiations were held in Buellton California.
Meetings were scheduled and held
consecutively at both sites on May 02, 2004 for the membership
to vote their decision on ratification. The results of those
meetings are as follows:
The following summary of highlights
are as follows:
* 3 Year Agreement effective
03 May 2004 through 06 May 2007
* 4% General Wage Increase the first year and
3% in the second and third year
* All GWI's applied to all minimum and maximum rates
* $1500.00 ratification bonus to be paid on May 28, 2004
* Newly added COLA Supplements of $600.00 each December
of the Agreement
* Pension plan increased from $50.00 to $60.00 per
month per year of credited service and retroactive to 01 January
2004
* Layoff Benefit of $10,000.00 if laid off before
program completion and $5000.00 if retained through
Program Completion
* Mission Success Incentive program that will
accumulate up to 45 weeks of bonus pay upon program
completion
*Additional $2.00 per hour pay for TDY hours
worked
* Daily per diem rate increased from $40.00 to $44.00
per day on continental USA travel
* Daily per diem rates raised from $75.00 to
$85.00 per day for travel outside the continental USA
* Travel allowance for personal vehicle use increased
from $0.34.5 to $0.37 per mile
* Accident and Sickness insurance at the Cape
location increased from $336.00 to $450.00 per week
* 37 Paid Holidays over life of the agreement
* Multiple improvements to the existing Medical and Dental plans
* New restriction limiting the number of salaried
employees who may return with seniority to the bargaining unit
* New Letter of Understanding expanding preferential
hiring at multiple locations at times of lay off
* New Memorandum of Understanding on Staffing of New
Programs at the Vandenberg location
* New Letter of Understanding on expanding job openings
for laid off employees
* New Letter Of Understanding for a Placement Assistance
Center for employees notified of lay off
* New letter of Understanding for Annual Benefits
Meetings between the Company and Union each year prior to Open
Enrollment periods to alleviate insurance issues
* New Letters of Understanding covering Workweek and 60
hour rule issues
* Various other areas of improvement in contract language
The Negotiating Committees from both
sites performed an excellent service to their membership under a
very difficult situation. Presently, major launch operations at
both facilities are scheduled to conclude within the next
eighteen months and the company has already began to lay off
employees at both sites. While other programs may still possibly
be scheduled for future operation at these sites and the current
programs may possibly be extended, the current issues of
personnel reductions complicated the task of these negotiations
unlike any of the recent past.
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank General Vice President Pearson for the
outstanding assistance and experience Grand Lodge Representative
Don Whitaker continues to bring to these negotiations. His
expertise and knowledge of the history behind the formation of
this collective bargaining agreement and continuity with the
membership of Local Lodge provided an invaluable resource during
these negotiations.
Additionally, District Lodge 166
Business Representative Johnny Walker is to be commended for the
outstanding job he did in behalf of our membership at Local
Lodge 610. Brother Walker’s leadership and knowledge of the
issues during these negotiations were of great significance in
reaching an agreement with the employer.
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