Negotiators for Pratt & Whitney and the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are due to resume talks on Thursday, May 22, aiming to resolve a now three-week-long strike by about 3,000 union members at two plants in Connecticut.
About 3,000 workers launched their first work-stoppage in more than 20 years on May 5.
The IAM is the same union that staged a seven-week strike at Boeing Corp. in September and October 2024.
It’s unclear which side initiated the new negotiations. Union officials have lately issued statements asserting that the work-stoppage was hurting the company’s customer-relations.
The jet-engine manufacturer reportedly has assigned non-production engineering employees to staff the operations in East Hartford and Middletown, including the GTF geared turbofan engine supplied to Airbus for its A320neo jets, among other high-volume aircraft programs. The F135 engine that powers the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is also produced in Connecticut.
Pratt & Whitney ended the previous round of negotiations when union members rejected a contract offer on May 4, reportedly by a 77% majority. The company’s offer at that time included an immediate 4% wage increase, a 3.5% increase in 2026, and a 3% increase in 2027. It also offered a $5,000 contract ratification bonus, and improved pension and 401k plan benefits.
David Sullivan, the union's eastern territory vice president, stated then that the company’s offer “does not address the membership concerns, and the membership made their decision — we will continue to fight for a fair contract.”
