Machinist Local 1746 members at UTC Power in South Windsor, CT, overwhelmingly approved a new collective bargaining agreement covering wages, benefits and other working conditions for 150 hourly workers who manufacture fuel cells.
The three-year agreement includes annual raises of 2.5 percent, a $1,000 signing bonus, continued Cost of Living Adjustments and increased pension and savings plan benefits. The contract includes some cost-shifting for health insurance coverage, but that is more than offset by other financial gains. The company will also increase its contributions to employees’ Individual Medical Accounts that can be used to pay for health care costs.
“This agreement was reached through hard bargaining and membership unity in the shop. Especially in these tough economic times, the financial gains are very positive. Based on the ratification vote, the members clearly agree,” said Jim Parent, District 26 ADBR and chief IAM negotiator in these talks.
“The world needs sources of alternative energy, and fuel cells are ready to fill that need,” said Parent. “This technology has the potential to produce thousands of new jobs over the next decade. We hope that the state legislature can help support the growth of this industry here in our state, to take advantage of the global need to ‘go green’.”
