Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have accepted the company’s new four-year contract offer and will return to work after being on strike since May 7.
The new contract covers 600 bargaining unit employees from District Lodges #75 and #166, which includes Locals #44, #610 and #2786 performing work on the Atlas V, Delta II, Delta IV and Vulcan Centaur product lines at both East and West Coast ULA launch sites and Decatur, Alabama, manufacturing facility. The contract becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. on May 7. Negotiations on the new contract officially started April 16 and ended April 26. On May 6 the ratification vote was held in all geographical locations covered by this contract and the employees voted to go on strike. Following meetings on May 15 and 16, union negotiators recommended the new contract and today members voted to accept the new contract.
“We are pleased that the IAM represented employees have ratified this agreement that is so critical to continuing ULA’s success,” said Tory Bruno, ULA president and CEO. “The represented employees’ contributions have propelled ULA forward in delivering critical capabilities for our nation and our customers. Our employees build the best, most reliable rockets flying today and the missions we launch save lives, explore the universe, connect the world and help humankind unlock its potential in space.
“We believe this contract will help secure our place as the go-to provider for launching people and one-of-a-kind payloads into space well into the future. We are excited and proud to work alongside an engaged team that is setting the standard for innovation and excellence in the space industry,” Bruno added.
With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation’s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 125 satellites to orbit that provide critical capabilities for troops in the field, aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, enable personal device-based GPS navigation and unlock the mysteries of our solar system.
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