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The IAM is advocating for lawmakers to quickly approve a bipartisan defense authorization bill that would fund numerous military programs built and maintained by Machinists Union members. Together, the programs support more than 100,000 IAM aerospace defense and shipbuilding jobs.
Thanks to the IAM’s lobbying efforts, the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes funding for the following IAM-built and maintained programs:
– 93 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters
– 24 F-18 Super Hornets
– 15 C-130 Super Hercules
– 12 F-15 Eagles
– 15 KC-46 Tankers
– Eight P-8 Poseidons
– Two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers
– One Columbia-class Ballistic Submarine
– Two Virginia-class Attack Submarines
TELL CONGRESS: Support U.S. Defense Workers by Voting ‘Yes’ on the 2021 NDAA
“This vitally important, bipartisan legislation will help ensure our U.S. national security, bolster the safety and effectiveness of our men and women in uniform and sustain hundreds of thousands of high-skilled jobs in the aerospace defense and shipbuilding industries,” wrote IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. in a letter to members of the U.S. House.
Unfortunately, the final version of the 2021 NDAA stripped out House-passed language, championed by the IAM and U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), which would have gradually increased Buy American requirements for major defense programs to 100 percent. The IAM will continue its push to increase domestic content in defense production.
The 2021 NDAA (H.R. 6395) does, however, include a well-deserved 3 percent pay raise for our nation’s armed service members. The legislation also includes additional pandemic leave and paid parental leave provisions for most federal employees.
