EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — About 3,000 labor union members went on strike early Monday at jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut, as negotiations over wages, retirement advantages and job safety broke down.
Members of the Worldwide Affiliation of Machinists and Aerospace Staff had been picketing at manufacturing areas in East Hartford and Middletown, after about 77% of practically 2,100 union members voted to approve their first strike since 2001, union officers mentioned. Their contract expired late Sunday.
“Pratt and Whitney is a powerhouse in army and industrial aerospace merchandise as a result of our membership makes it so,” David Sullivan, the union’s japanese territory vice chairman, mentioned in an announcement. ”This provide doesn’t tackle the membership issues, and the membership made their choice — we’ll proceed to struggle for a good contract.”
The corporate, a subsidiary of Arlington, Virginia-based RTX Corp., known as its newest wage and retirement proposal aggressive, and mentioned its workforce is among the many most extremely compensated within the area and business.
“Our message to union leaders all through this considerate course of has been easy: larger pay, higher retirement financial savings, extra days off and extra flexibility,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement. “We’ve no fast plans to renew negotiations right now and now we have contingency plans in place to take care of operations and to fulfill our buyer commitments.”
The corporate mentioned its newest contract proposal included a right away 4% wage improve, adopted by a 3.5% improve in 2026 and a 3% improve in 2027. It additionally included a $5,000 contract ratification bonus and enhanced pension and 401k plan advantages.
Pratt & Whitney makes engines for industrial and army jets, together with the GTF line for Airbus industrial jets and the F135 for the army’s F-35 Lightning II fighter plane fleet.
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