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| Workers at the Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Newport News, VA join IAM leadership before beginning negotiations with the company in February 2016. From left: IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Mark Blondin, Latasha Greene, Aaron Lawrence, Shannon Briscoe, John “Tony” Polisk, District 74 Directing Business Representative Larry Young and Grand Lodge Representative Joe Greaser. |
Hardened by their long battle for union representation, nearly 200 IAM members at Huntington Ingalls are now fighting even harder for their first contract by filing another labor board charge against the Newport News, VA company. The employer is refusing to bargain on economic issues and is making unilateral changes without bargaining.
After voting to join the IAM in 2009, the Technicians in the radiation monitoring area of the shipyard fought six-and-a-half years for a contract. The fight included numerous court battles and appeals, before the NLRB ordered Huntington Ingalls to bargain with the IAM in November 2015.
Local press has highlighted the company’s stall tactics and foot-dragging techniques.
“It’s time for this employer to sit down and bargain fairly,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Mark Blondin. “We hope Huntington Ingalls will put these stall tactics to rest and bargain with the Negotiating Committee. After what the members have been through here, they deserve it.”
The Negotiating Committee attended the Negotiation Prep Program at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center earlier this year and began negotiations in February.
WATCH: The Wait is Over
The radiological technicians test radiation levels on the nuclear-powered ships built at Newport News. They are the first level of defense in the event of a radiation leak.
You can follow their campaign for a fair contract on the Machinist Union E85 Facebook Page.
