More than 3,000 Machinists Strike At Pratt & Whitney
Two of P&W’s key Connecticut facilities are hit by job action.
Yesterday (May 5), more than 3,000 members of Machinist (IAM) Locals 700 and 1746 went on strike at Pratt & Whitney’s Middletown and East Hartford, Connecticut, plants. Those locations are where P&W manufactures its geared turbofan (GTF) engines for Airbus airliners and military F135 engines for the F-35 Lightning II fighter.
Employee grievances include inadequate wage increases, weakened retirement benefits, rising health insurance costs and a lack of job security assurance. Wayne McCarthy, president of IAM Local 700, said, “For months, we have negotiated in good faith with Pratt & Whitney in hopes of reaching a fair contract that reflects the billions in profits our members make for the company.” Howie Huestis, president of IAM Local 1746, added, "We are ready to hold the line for as long as it takes to secure a contract that recognizes the value we create every single day for the company.”
For its part, P&W cited its latest contract proposal, which included an immediate 4% salary increase, to be followed up with a 3.5% increase next year and a 3% boost in 2027. There was also a $5,000 contract ratification bonus and enhanced pension and 401k plan benefits, according to the company.
In a statement, Pratt & Whitney asserted, "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.”
