IAM LOCAL 743 and HAMILTON
SUNDSTRAND
BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS
With a deadline of midnight May 2, 2004, IAM Local 743/ District 26, began negotiations with Hamilton Sundstrand, a unit of United Technologies Corp., for a new con
tract covering 1,076 IAM members at the company plant in Windsor Locks, Connecticut."Our members have worked hard and given a lifetime to this company. They deserve economic dignity in retirement." stated IAM District 26 Chief Negotiator James Parent across the negotiating table as talks began.
"We have three priorities in these negotiations." declared Parent. "Grow Jobs. Better Retirement. Improved Health Care Benefits."
Indicating the importance of these negotiations, IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Lynn D. Tucker, Jr., Aerospace Coordinator Frank Santos, Grand Lodge Representative William Rudis and District 26 Directing Business Representative Everett Corey were in attendance for the first day of negotiations.
"These negotiations are about jobs. Not only for our members, but for Connecticut as well." said GVP Lynn Tucker, who was there to lead the IAM negotiating team on opening day.
It is the second time within six months District 26 has engaged in negotiations with a unit of United Technologies, having won a new contract at it’s UTC Fuel Cells subsidiary in December 2003.
“These are important negotiations to thousands of IAM members in Connecticut” said District 26 Communicator Mel Tripp, “After the recent UTC Fuel Cells agreement members at both Hamilton and Pratt are preparing for a fight.”
In the UTC Fuel Cells negotiations, the company was able to take advantage of poor economic conditions to force changes in health insurance for early retirement. The company will no longer contribute to insurance cost for workers who retire early from UTC Fuel Cells after 2006. Workers at both Hamilton Sundstrand and Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, whose contract negotiations come later this year, expect UTC to propose the same takeaway in their negotiations.
“Without the company picking up part of the insurance cost, it would be impossible for most of our members to retire early. I think it’s one of the issues they’re prepared to strike over", said Tripp.
"Our members are motivated on the issues and prepared to do what's necessary to win a contract they deserve", added Local 743 President Mark Hebert.
The Hamilton Sundstrand contract is the first major negotiations between the IAM and United Technologies in Connecticut this year.
"The Brothers and Sisters at Hamilton are leading the fight this time around and we've got to do everything we can to support them" said Local 700 President David Durbin Sr. who represents workers at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in Middletown, Connecticut.
President Durbin, along with Local 1746 President Mike Stone and Local 1746A President Mark McWilliams, who represent Pratt and Whitney worker at shops in East Hartford and Cheshire , Connecticut, attended the opening day of negotiations to lend support and to let the company know that Hamilton and Pratt workers are united in these negotiations.
In a show of solidarity, leaders from the UAW, Teamsters and other unions having contracts with United Technologies also attended the opening day of negotiations to show support.
Further talks are scheduled on Tuesday, March 23, 2004.