Lockheed Martin -   Cape Canaveral, Florida; Santa Maria, California

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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