October 29, 2015
By Steve Wishnia and Neal Tepel
Workers at Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz. overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract Oct. 25, after management dropped a wage-freeze demand that the union had called “insulting.” Members of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 933, who had been considering a possible strike, voted to ratify the agreement by a 476–56 margin.
The contract will give most of the about 1,300 employees represented by the union raises averaging about 2.75% per year and bonuses totaling $2,250, but will also increase their health-care costs. “I think the package was fair, but I’m not happy with the health-care part of it because there are some uncertainties,” Local 933 directing business representative Louis Martinez said after the vote. Read more
