June 27, 2006 – Members of Local 1998 in Honolulu, HI employed by Lockheed Martin COMS at Pearl Harbor ratified a three-year contract with the company. The accord marks the first collective bargaining agreement for the unit.
“The negotiations committee worked diligently for five months preparing for the contract,” said Maria Santiago Lillis, GLR assigned to Hawaii. “They were successful in addressing almost every issue identified in the survey of the members.” Representation and protection from arbitrary layoffs were the members’ top two concerns.
“This contract rewards the faith that these workers placed in us when we first started working with them,” said GVP Pearson. “This is a good contract, and it shows the talent and hard work by all the people involved.”
The agreement includes pay raises of 18 percent in the first year, three percent in the second and third years. Medical-related insurance premiums will be paid in full by the company until January 2007, when employees will pay a percentage of the premium. The contract also contains language governing layoffs be seniority, shift premiums, vacation, holidays and union representation. The company will make a two percent contribution of base weekly pay to a 401(k) for each unit member.
GLR Santiago Lillis expressed thanks and appreciation to the entire negotiating committee, including: Aerospace Coordinator John Crowdis, Chief Steward Lester Aczon, Alternate Steward James “Willie” Wilson, and Alternate Co-Negotiator Vernette Sierra.
