Latest news with #PrattWhitney
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Pratt & Whitney machinists end 3-week strike after approving a new contract
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — About 3,000 machinists at jet engine-maker Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut approved a new four-year contract Tuesday, ending a three-week strike over wages, job security and other issues. Union members were expected to return to work Wednesday after 74% of them voted in favor of the new deal, according to locals 1746 and 700 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of Arlington, Virginia-based RTX Corp., makes engines for commercial and military jets, including the GTF line for Airbus commercial jets and the F135 for the military's F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft fleet. The union said the new contract, which runs to May 2029, guarantees continued operations at the company's East Hartford and Middletown plants through 2029. It also includes a 6% wage increase the first year, followed by raises of 3.5% in 2026 and 3% in both 2027 and 2028. Retirement benefits also were improved, the union said. 'This agreement includes real gains for our members and proves what we can accomplish when we stick together,' Wayne McCarthy, president of Local 700, said in a statement. The company said in a statement that the contract 'recognizes the skill and dedication of our workforce by keeping them among the highest compensated in their field, while ensuring the company is well-positioned for the future.' Union members began picketing in East Hartford and Middletown on May 5, after about 77% of union members voted to approve their first strike since 2001.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Striking workers approve latest contract offer from at RTX's Pratt & Whitney
May 27 (Reuters) - Striking workers at RTX's (RTX.N), opens new tab Pratt & Whitney approved the company's second contract offer on Tuesday by 74%, according to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The strike at two of the engine-maker's plants in Connecticut began May 5 after members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers overwhelmingly rejected the first contract offer. Union representatives have previously said the roughly 3,000 striking workers' top priority is getting Pratt to commit to keep work for Lockheed Martin's (LMT.N), opens new tab F-35 fighters in the state. The strike is the first in more than 20 years at the enginemaker's Connecticut sites, where it produces engines for the F-35 and about 70% of the company's geared turbofan engine, which is used in European planemaker Airbus' ( opens new tab strong-selling A320 neo family. The vote results "reaffirms our commitment to the people, programs and communities that have powered our legacy — and will shape our next century of aviation innovation,' a Pratt & Whitney spokesperson said. During the strike, Pratt reassigned some engineers to production lines as part of its contingency plan, which was first reported by Reuters.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Striking workers approve second contract offer from RTX's Pratt & Whitney
May 27 (Reuters) - Striking workers at RTX's (RTX.N), opens new tab Pratt & Whitney approved the company's second contract offer on Tuesday, ending a three-week-long strike, according to a spokesperson for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Union representatives have previously said the roughly 3,000 striking workers' top priority is getting Pratt to commit to keep work for Lockheed Martin's (LMT.N), opens new tab F-35 fighters in the state. The strike is the first in more than 20 years at the enginemaker's Connecticut sites, where it produces engines for the F-35 and about 70% of the company's geared turbofan engine, which is used in European planemaker Airbus' ( opens new tab strong-selling A320 neo family.
Reuters
23-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Striking workers at Pratt & Whitney to vote on revised contract offer
May 23 (Reuters) - About 3,000 striking workers at RTX's (RTX.N), opens new tab Pratt & Whitney are slated to vote on a contract offer from the engine maker next week, the company and the union representing the workers announced on Friday, one day after negotiations resumed. The nearly three-week-long strike has significantly slowed production at two of the company's plants in Connecticut. Union representatives have said the workers' top priority is getting Pratt to commit to keep work for Lockheed Martin's (LMT.N), opens new tab F-35 fighters in the state. Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers overwhelmingly rejected the first contract offer on May 4. "On Tuesday, our members will decide if we achieved our objectives around job security, wage security, and retirement security," IAM leaders said in a message sent Friday to members. "This new proposal has significant changes/improvements in all three of these core areas." A Pratt spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of the offer. The strike is the first in more than 20 years at the enginemaker's Connecticut sites, where it produces engines for the F-35 and about 70% of the company's geared turbofan engine, which is used in European planemaker Airbus' ( opens new tab strong-selling A320 neo family. Pratt has reassigned some engineers to production lines as part of its contingency plan, which was first reported by Reuters.
Reuters
19-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Striking Pratt engine workers to resume talks with RTX on Thursday
May 19 (Reuters) - RTX (RTX.N), opens new tab and the union representing around 3,000 striking U.S. Pratt & Whitney workers are resuming talks on Thursday as the stoppage continues in its third week, spokespeople for both the company and union said on Monday. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said the workers are on strike for improved job security and higher pay. The first strike in more than 20 years at the enginemaker's Connecticut sites comes as the aerospace supply chain is already struggling to meet global demand for new airliners, while facing uncertainty over U.S. tariffs on imported aircraft parts. Pratt produces about 70% of the company's geared turbofan engine in Connecticut, where the strike is affecting two sites. The GTF is used in European planemaker Airbus' ( opens new tab strong-selling A320 neo family, along with engines for the F-35 fighter jet. Pratt has brought in engineers as part of its contingency plan to produce parts and avert delays, two sources told Reuters. Pratt is sourcing engineers who can operate machinery as part of the plan, said one of the sources. A second source said he knows of engineers who have been reassigned to the plants, putting some engineering projects on hold. Both of the sources discussed Pratt's internal labor strategy on condition of anonymity. RTX and the IAM declined comment on the use of engineers. A letter from Pratt to workers seen by Reuters asked employees to complete a skills assessment by last Friday. It called for workers with specialized manufacturing skills, along with general factory and business process support. "We rely on the talents of our entire workforce to meet our customer commitments," it said. It's not clear that Pratt can keep all production moving or at what pace while using engineers in lieu of factory workers. An Airbus spokesperson said the company continues to monitor the situation and is in contact with RTX. Pratt and customers are still grappling with a manufacturing flaw discovered in 2023 that has grounded hundreds of aircraft while mechanics conduct months-long inspections. While some carriers like JetBlue (JBLU.O), opens new tab have said they are seeing improvements with Pratt in recent months, roughly one-third of airplanes with GTF engines were out of service as of May 9, according to Barclays. Analysts warn that a lengthy strike would further strain production.
