Machinists Vow to Support Atlantis Mission
June 8, 2007
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Cocoa Beach, FL, June 8, 2007 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 2061 today notified the United Space Alliance (USA) that IAM members assigned to shuttle recovery for the Atlantis STS-117 mission will remain on the job regardless of the status of contract negotiations with USA.
“It’s simply the right thing to do,” said IAM District 166 Directing Business Representative Johnny Walker. “We support the mission and the astronauts first. If the shuttle has to come down at an alternative landing site and the skills of our members will be required, we won’t let the mission down.”
The Machinists and United Space Alliance are in a five-day cooling-off period following a vote by IAM members to authorize a strike if a satisfactory contract is not reached. The earliest a strike at Kennedy Space Center could occur would be 12:01 AM on June 10.
“The workers here at the Kennedy Space Center have completed their work on Atlantis,” said Walker. “And our members in the field will finish their work before taking part in any job action or strike.”
No new negotiations are scheduled at this time.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO, CLC, is one of the nation’s largest trade unions, representing more than 700,000 active and retired members. For more information about the IAM, visit their website at www.goiam.org.
