Hamllton Sundstrand Workers Approve A New 3-Year Contract
About 800 of the over 1,100 unionized workers showed up for the ratification vote, and 94 percent approved the deal, said James Parent, a representative of District Lodge 26 of the International Association of Machinists.
The deal includes yearly raises of 3.5 percent, increases to the pension plan, and a $3,000 signing bonus which the company agreed to match at 50 percent if the money is put in an employee savings plan, Parent said.
Workers will have to pay more for health care under the plan, but Parent said the signing bonus more than made up for that.
The pension increase brings the plan to $57 per month per year of service, Parent said.
"We ended up with a real decent contract," Parent said. "At one point, it looked like this membership was ready to take them on if the company didn't come up with some extra money to defray part of the health care costs, and address our concerns about the pension plan -- but they did."
Kevin Ruffer, vice president of human resources and chief spokesperson for the Hamilton Sundstrand negotiating committee, said the company was also pleased with the deal.
"The negotiating teams for both the company and the union worked hard to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides," he said.
Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., manufactures aerospace systems for NASA, including the astronauts' spacesuit and space capsule toilet, and is a supplier for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft. It also is the manufacturer of auxiliary power systems for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is to begin service next year.
"This is good for both parties, and we move forward from here," Parent said. "We expect growth at Hamilton Sundstrand.
Workers last went on strike at Hamilton Sundstrand in 1960.
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