25 October, 2011Members of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) began strike action on 10 October at a Honeywell nuclear parts manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Missouri. The 850 members of IAM Lodge 778 begin their third week today on picket lines at a US government-owned site following a 79% contract rejection on 9 October.
USA: Union members followed that ballot with an 85% strike vote the same day. US federal mediation a week ago failed to resolve differences, but did produce a hand-shake agreement on 18 October in which both sides agreed to refrain from airing the dispute in the local press. Two days later, a manager for Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies LLC told a television broadcast that IAM members are overpaid and should be satisfied with the company's "last and final" offer.
That offer is a six-year proposal that does contain minimal pay gains in each year, but it also creates a two-tier wage scheme. That pay grid would see all employees hired in 2012 receive less hourly pay and come under a slower pay progression. Such a pay schedule would take new hires five years to reach only 90% of what current workers earn.
Honeywell's proposal also attacks workers' health care coverage, making it more costly for union members to have adequate health insurance. IAM Lodge 778 has proposed a four-year contract without the concessions.
The union awaits a decision from the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) declaring the work stoppage an unfair labour practice strike. In the days prior to the 9 October rejection vote, Honeywell management circumvented the union's bargaining committee by express mailing a letter to all workers, misrepresenting the company's proposal and urging them to accept the offer.
Such bad-faith bargaining runs counter to US labour statute and if the NLRB does issue a complaint, the strike takes on new meaning. Honeywell operates the US government facility called Bannister Federal Complex and produces non-nuclear components for America's nuclear weapons industry.
The IAM strike comes a short two months after Honeywell ended a 13-month lockout against members of the United Steelworkers (USW) at a uranium conversion site in Metropolis, Illinois. ICEM reports on that can be found here and here.
UPDATE, November 2:
The IMF is calling on affiliates to send letters of solidarity to the IAM in support of the striking 850 IAM members fighting for a fair contract.
"This is a critical struggle, not only for workers in the USA, but for workers around the world. Your perseverance and success will pave the way for future generations of unionised workers. The IMF stands shoulder to shoulder with you in this fight and will take action globally if necessary," said Jyrki Raina, IMF General Secretary in a letter to IAM members. See IMF letter here.
Click here for IAM contact details.