District 776 filed formal Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over misleading and threatening mail sent from Lockheed Martin to IAM members on strike.
The letter was directed to striking employees who have outstanding loans with the Lockheed Martin Corporation Hourly Employees Savings Plan (HSP), a 401(k) savings plan, which permits loans against employee savings.
“Under HSP rules, which were negotiated by the IAM, members on strike are automatically placed on a leave of absence status and outstanding loans will not go into default for a period of 12 months,” said District 776 Directing Business Rep. Paul Black. “The letter detailed the consequences of a loan going into default status but failed to note the critical 12-month grace period.”
The letter from Lockheed Martin and a copy of the charges filed by the IAM are available at www.goiamtexas.com.
“We believe the letter contains implied threats and is a violation under the National Labor Relations Act,” said Black who noted that three other NLRB charges filed by the IAM against Lockheed Martin are still pending.
The strike by about 3,600 employees began April 22, after the membership voted by a 94 percent margin to reject the contract. Major issues include affordable health care and the pension plan.
