EAST HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – More than 3,000 Pratt & Whitney employees voted to go on strike after unresolved issues in contract negotiations with the aerospace manufacturer.
A union official said the plan was to go on strike at 12:01 a.m. on Monday after members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) took completed Sunday’s vote at the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford.
The striking workers said they were responsible for building, maintaining, and testing aircraft engines for both commercial and military planes at Pratt & Whitney’s East Hartford and Middletown facilities.
Despite rainy conditions and early hours, workers gathered outside company headquarters in East Hartford on Monday to take part in the strike.
Many huddled under tents as they voiced concerns about job security, healthcare costs, and wages.
IAM provided Channel 3 with a statement.
“Our committee worked tirelessly to advance our member’s voices to the company, and the company simply failed to bring to the table an agreement that we felt comfortable recommending to our membership. At the end of the day, the membership always has the final say.”
The company’s offer reportedly included an 18.6 percent wage increase over three years, but union leaders said it failed to address other key concerns, including potential cuts to retirement benefits and increased healthcare costs.
“We will be down in front of Pratt and Whitney letting them know what we want and why we’re there and waiting until the negotiating committee can get back to the table with the company and make a better deal for us,” said Michael Lamoureaux, Machinist Local 700.
Eyewitness News obtained a statement from Pratt & Whitney in which the company defended its offer:
“Pratt & Whitney’s offer competitively compensates our workforce while ensuring P&W can grow in an increasingly competitive marketplace, creating ongoing economic opportunity in the state of Connecticut. Our message to union leaders throughout this thoughtful process has been simple: higher pay, better retirement savings, more days off and more flexibility. Our local workforce is among the highest compensated in the region and the industry – our offer built on that foundation. We have no immediate plans to resume negotiations at this time and we have contingency plans in place to maintain operations and to meet our customer commitments.”
The strike was expected to significantly impact production operations at both the East Hartford and Middletown plants.
East Hartford police were expected to increase patrols around the area to manage traffic and ensure safety near picket lines.
Monday’s strike was not the first labor action at Pratt & Whitney.
Workers previously went on strike in 1985 and 2001 over similar contract disputes. The most recent strike lasted 10 days.
Several political leaders weighed in on the strike.
“I stand with Machinists in fighting for basic workplace fairness— decent, well-deserved pay, pensions and job security. Workers need long term certainty in jobs and income to make the American dream real. Our state’s prosperity and progress depends on proper, fair treatment of workers, especially at Pratt where their products are critical to our national defense.”
“Pratt and Whitney is a world leader in manufacturing aircraft engines because of their amazing workers, who are critical to the success of our nation’s manufacturing future. We strongly encourage the company’s leadership and the machinists union to come together to reach a fair deal that is negotiated in good faith,” said Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz in a joint statement.
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