Nearly three quarters of the membership of Local 933 in Tucson, AZ, turned out for a contract ratification vote on October 31 and approved a three-year accord with Raytheon Missile Systems by an overwhelming margin. The new agreement covers more than 1,700 workers and runs through 2012.
The contract provides for wage increases of 2.75 percent in the first and second year and 2.5 percent in 2011, in addition to a ratification bonus of $750 and other improvements.
Health care costs were a key issue for members and negotiators on both sides of the bargaining table. Under the new agreement, increases to premiums will be capped at 22.5 percent in the first year of the pact and 25 percent in the second and third years.
In local newspaper articles describing the settlement, Local 933 DBR James Watson welcomed the accord and sounded a familiar refrain about the need to fix the nation’s health care system.
“Health care costs will remain an issue for all labor unions and employers until this nation comes to the realization that runaway health care costs need to be fixed for the working families of this country,” said Watson.
