Nearly 2,000 members of IAM Local 774 ratified a new 4-year collective bargaining agreement with Textron Aviation last Saturday, September 19, 2020.
After a solid month of negotiating, the negotiating committee reached a tentative agreement they could recommend to members amid the current pandemic.
“The focus of our negotiations with Textron Aviation was to bring the employees represented by the IAM to be something that would benefit the group as a whole, without the need to have a work stoppage,” said District 70 President and Directing Business Representative Cornell Beard. “I believe we did that, or we’d be walking a picket line right now.”
The new four-year agreement includes a total general wage increase of 7.5% over the life of the deal, additional company contributions to employee health savings accounts, a new additional no-deductible healthcare plan, increased language to protect job security, extended recall rights for laid-off employees and a voluntary retirement plan incentive for employees that are 55 years or older and have 5 years of service.
“Congratulations to the members of Local 774 on their new agreement,” said Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “The bargaining committee worked very hard during these challenging times and were successful in reaching an agreement the members ratified. This is a contract they can build upon and continue to improve the livelihoods of our members in Wichita.”
“The members of Local 774 stood in solidarity and gave their negotiating committee the power at the bargaining table to reach an agreement,” said Aerospace General Vice President Mark Blondin. “Congrats to the Negotiating Committee and the members on reaching an agreement during these difficult economic conditions.”
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