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18 June, 2007
ICEM affiliate, the United Electrical, Radio, Machine Workers of America (UE), and the IUE-CWA reached tentative four-year agreements with General Electric Co. (GE) yesterday.
The tentative pact, covering over 14,000 workers, will now be reviewed by the two unions’ conference boards, and then put to ratification votes of all workers by 28 June. A prior labour agreement in the US at GE plants expired at midnight, last night.
The tentative accord reached yesterday includes significant improvements in wages, pensions, and benefits. It also contains agreement to accelerate joint efforts between GE and the unions to address the difficult and costly health care system in America. The unions also won a new holiday in talks, Veterans Day (also known as Armistice Day) in November.
“I think it’s an agreement our members will recognise as a good one,” stated UE General President John Hovis. “I’m especially pleased with the provisions that affect (less senior) people at the locations we represent.” Both the UE and the IUE-CWA are recommending the tentative contract for approval to their members.
Terms of this accord will now be offered to US-based unions covering another 6,000 GE workers at their locations.