FORT WORTH, Texas, April 24, 2022 – Approximately 5,000 members of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 776 in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday voted to ratify a new contract with Lockheed Martin. The four-year, two-month contract takes effect Monday, April 25.
IAM members at the Fort Worth facility build the F-35, the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter. The IAM has long championed continued support for the F-35 program.
The new contract includes:
– 16% effective general wage increase over the life of the contract
– Additional cost-of-living adjustments and a $1,000 yearly cost-of-living supplement
– Improvements to retirement plan and maintains strong healthcare plan
– $4,000 ratification bonus
– Improvements in field pay, annual progression raises, shift premiums and more.
The IAM District 776 negotiating committee unanimously recommended the proposal. Contract negotiations had been ongoing since February. The contract also covers IAM members at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, and Patuxent River, MD.
“We have once again proven why the IAM is the largest and strongest aerospace and defense labor union in the world,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr., who began his IAM career as an aircraft assembler at the Fort Worth facility. “Our members stood strong and demanded a strong contract every step of the way. I want to thank the District 776 leadership and negotiating committee, the IAM Aerospace Department, the IAM Southern Territory and every department at the IAM Grand Lodge who supported these important negotiations.”
Negotiations were pivotal not only for IAM District 776 families, but for the Dallas-Fort Worth community, the state of Texas and the aerospace industry. The F-35 supply chain supports over 254,000 jobs with 1,800 suppliers spanning 48 states and Puerto Rico.
“We demanded an equitable contract that fairly compensated the best aerospace and defense workers in the world—and today, we succeeded,” said IAM District 776 President and Directing Business Representative Paul Black. “The solidarity and strength of our membership and negotiating committee carried us through this process.”
The IAM District 776 negotiating committee prepared for contract talks for more than six months, including a preparation session at the IAM’s Winpisinger Education and Technology Center, which included trainings on contract language, strategic planning, contract costing and a negotiation simulation.
“Our negotiating team made it clear that retirement security, and increasing 401(k) plan funding, was critical to ratifying a contract,” said IAM Aerospace General Vice President Mark Blondin. “I’m proud to report that we have delivered on retirement security and much more for our membership.”
“IAM District 776 members are rightfully proud of the work they do to support our military,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “Thanks to the strength of this negotiating committee and the membership, we have secured a fair and equitable contract that will secure the futures of our members and their families.”
“I could not be more proud of the work done by this negotiating committee,” said IAM Aerospace Chief of Staff Jody Bennett. “We used every resource necessary to achieve our goal—a contract that delivers pay and benefit increases for our membership.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, manufacturing, transit, healthcare, automotive and other industries.
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2022 – Hundreds of mechanic and related workers at Lufthansa Technik, Puerto Rico, LLC. in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, are currently voting in a National Mediation Board (NMB) election to join theInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the largest airline and transportation union in North America.
The NMB sent out the mailed ballots to the employees on March 10, 2022. The election voting period is March 10through May 5, 2022. The final tally will be at the NMB offices in Washington, DC on May 5, 2022.
Earlier this year the National Mediation Board (NMB) ruled that the IAMhad provided the required showing of interest to proceed to a mail-ballot election. The Lufthansa Technik workers have endured aggressive anti-union tactics and appeals from management to stop their right to join the IAM.
Most recently, IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. and IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallacevisited with Lufthansa Technik mechanic and related workers.
“These hard-working Lufthansa workers are doing a fantastic job organizing their fellow employees and I urged them to vote for the IAM in this mail ballot election,” said Martinez. “They are facing many workplace issues, including reduced work hours, irregular work rules, and inadequate wages and benefits. With the IAM as their legal representative, we can help address these issues with management”
“Workers explained to us how this company has let them down year after year,” said Wallace. “Lufthansa Technik workers deserve competitive wages and benefits.”
“Our hope is to make a positive change,” said Juan Negron, IAM Special Assistant to the International President. “We know that we will represent the best interests of the workers and their families.”
The Lufthansa Technik mechanics based at Aguadilla maintain some of the biggest airline carriers globally, providing service for United Airlines, Allegiant,Spirit, Avianca, and recently, JetBlue.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airline, railroad, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.
IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr., has appointed Jon Irvine from Woodworkers Local W130 and District Lodge W24 as an Education Representative at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, MD, effective July 1, 2022.
“I am proud to appoint Jon to the Winpisinger Center,” said Martinez. “He brings a wealth of relevant and practical knowledge to the Center and has been involved from the ground up in organizing and servicing. I know his knowledge and experience will be put to immediate use to the benefit of our membership.”
Irvine, a 12-year member of the IAM, comes to the Winpisinger Center with strengths in collective bargaining and organizing. He has organized workers in professions as diverse as law enforcement, government, healthcare, transportation, and timber product manufacturing.
“Organizing and growth are critical to our future,” said Winpisinger Center Director Chris Wagoner. “Jon has been involved in multiple organizing efforts, and he will be able to bring that experience into the classroom. He has also bargained contracts and argued grievances, which will contribute to our programs that teach collective bargaining and steward training. We are confident that Jon will make an impact on the union’s up-and-coming leadership.”
Irvine became Shop Steward for his department in 2013, Camp Shop Steward in 2014, Secretary-Treasurer in 2015, and Local Lodge President in 2017. He also represented the IAM on the Washington State Central Labor Council as Recording Secretary (2016-2017) and currently serves as chair of the Central Oregon Chapter of the Oregon AFL-CIO.
Irvine has also served the State of Oregon on the Governor’s Workforce & Talent Development Board (2019-2021); the Oregon Employment Department Modernization Taskforce (2020-2021); the Oregon Forestry Resource Institute (2019-present); the Eastern Oregon Workforce Investment Board (2019-present); and the Clackamas Workforce Investment Board.
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