Pratt & Whitney workers make gains despite plant closing

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.peoplesworld.org/pratt-whitney-workers-make-gains-despite-plant-closing/

by: Joelle Fishman



EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Machinist union members at Pratt & Whitney ratified a new contract last weekend, following a valiant fight on the shop floor, in the street and at the bargaining table to stop plant closings and save job security language. Their tactics preserved the unity of the workforce and retained job security language in the union contract, although the company will now proceed to close the Cheshire plant and the CARO repair department in East Hartford, displacing 500 workers. An "early out" benefit package won by the union is expected to create job openings for most of the affected workers.

From the start the company, which produces, overhauls and repairs commercial and military jet engines for United Technologies Corp (UTC), made it known that they anticipated workers were too divided to stop the elimination of contract language requiring "every reasonable effort" to keep jobs in Connecticut. However, that language remains, a tribute to the unity that the workers were able to maintain around the slogan "Don't screw with letter 22."

The closings are bad news for the current and future workforce in Connecticut. UTC is the largest private employer in the state. There are 3,400 workers at Pratt & Whitney plants in Middletown, Cheshire and East Hartford. At the time of the last contract there were over 5,000 workers and the North Haven plant was still open.

During the week leading up to the contract vote, union members wore their special t-shirts, rallied outside the main plant, and carried out full preparations for a strike. At the last moment the company made an offer incorporating enough of the union concerns for the negotiating committee to recommend a "yes" vote. When the members gathered at Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, they listened to the terms of the agreement, and, in an hour, voted overwhelmingly to accept.

IAM chief negotiator Jim Parent emphasized that in the 16-month fight over the Cheshire and CARO closings, which included two court cases won by the union, "our members never gave up, gave in or stopped fighting. We have had a lot of support along the way from elected officials, the labor movement, many local businesses and others."

FULL story at link.