Hamilton Sundstrand Workers Accept New Contract
Connecticut,  May 2, 2004

With over a 90% yes vote the members of IAM Local Lodge 743 accepted their negotiating committee's recommendation and accepted a new 3 year contract with Hamilton Sundstrand, a unit of United Technologies Corp.

"The committee had to weight the overall offer before making a recommendation to accept," said IAM Chief Negotiator James Parent after the contract vote held at the Windsor Locks High School in Windsor Locks, Connecticut on May 2.

"I think the gains we made in job security language and pension benefits, which were the priority items for the membership, were enough to offset some of the negative things put on the table by the company," he said.

"I believe the members are happy with the way things turned out," said Local Lodge 743 President Mark Hebert.

"In times like these, with companies asking for give backs, we fought to keep what we had and make improvements," said Hebert. It's do to the hard work of our negotiating committee and the support we got from our International President Tom Buffenbarger and the great staff at the Grand Lodge, our Eastern Territory General Vice President Lynn Tucker and most of all the membership, that we were able to win improvements," he said.

"I couldn't be more proud of the committee or the membership" he declared.

The new three (3) year contract provides improvements in pension benefits of $5.00 more per month per year of service to a maximum of $49.00 per month for each year of service. Wage increases of 3.5% in year one, 3% in year two and 3% in year three. Increases in the amount the company will contribute to the employee savings plan and new job security language that provides a way to keep work for IAM members and to decrease the use of 'Yellow Badges' (outside contractors).

The most "repugnant" aspects of the new agreement, as described by the negotiating committee, are the changes in health insurance. Included in the new agreement are increases in employee contributions to health care and stripping workers who retire after December 31, 2006 of any company contribution to health insurance.

"We did the best we could," said Committee member Mike Evans. " We were at the table for twelve hours straight at the end, we didn't leave anything on the table, we got everything we could."

In a statement released to the membership after the vote, Local 743 President Mark Hebert and the negotiating committee thanked all for their support, saying "...I am proud to be a part of this great Local. Proud to witness the solidarity that the members have demonstrated time and time again. Proud to work hand-in-hand with our Sisters and Brothers to build a solid and strong Union for the future of our children and community."

Special thanks were given to IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President  Lynn D. Tucker Jr., IAM General Vice President Robert Thayer, Aerospace Coordinator Frank Santos, Grand Lodge Representative William Rudis, District 26 Directing Business Representative Everett Corey, District 26 Assistant Directing Business Representative and Chief Negotiator James Parent, District 26 Business Representatives Rudy Buck, Steve Merrick and Dean White. Local Lodge 700 President David Durbin Sr., Local Lodge 1746 President Mike Stone and Local Lodge 1746a President Mark McWilliams. Thanks also went to  IAM Strategic Analyst Neil Gladstone and District 26 Administrative Assistant Ann Marino.

It's also noted that during the meeting, in the spirit of community , the members of Local 743 collected $838.00 to be donated to the Windsor Locks High School Student Activity Fund.