GE Aerospace Union Workers from IUE-CWA Ratify National Contract

GE Aerospace workers from Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts and New York voted today to approve a historic contract

Statement from Jerry Carney, IUE-CWA Chief Negotiator and General Electric Coordinated Bargaining Committee Chair

“After GE’s break up into three separate companies, this 4 year labor contract with GE Aerospace brings back stability to IUE-CWA families, with cost of living (COLA) language which will protect our members from a repeat of runaway inflation like we saw during the pandemic. Wage rates will increase a compounded 16.9% over the life of the contract and are now protected with added Cost of Living Adjustment language on top of that. We made sure our earnings outpace increased healthcare costs.

Our pension is staying intact, protecting our members close to retirement, and our newer members will get more cash added to their 401ks from GE on a yearly basis, without having to contribute themselves.

We’ve improved paid time off, with new hires being able to access personal time immediately and our members earning more vacation days at a faster rate. Juneteenth was added as a holiday. We have also improved bereavement time for our members and we have improved parental bonding time, where the Company will now pay full rate for 6 weeks of leave within 12 months following birth or adoption, up from 3 weeks currently.

Finally we have safeguarded our collectively bargained rights with a Successorship Clause, should GE Aerospace proceed with any further restructuring.”

Statement from Carl Kennebrew, President, IUE-CWA

“IUE-CWA has been part of GE’s history for nearly a century, and we will be part of its future. With the ratification of its first labor contract with GE Aerospace as a standalone entity, our membership takes a strong, confident, step forward. GE Aerospace has made commitments to invest in our union plants, and we will work with them, and hold them accountable to turn their commitments into reality. For too long we have suffered a race to the bottom which has destroyed worker prosperity. Because of that, we also have made a commitment to be in solidarity with other GE Aerospace manufacturing workers in the USA and across the world, and we will provide all our union allies an update as to our bargaining results, so we can raise standards together.”

Statement from Kevin Christian GE worker Local 83701 Madisonville, KY

“Our skilled labor built this company into what it is today. Aerospace is a thriving business that continues to grow.

The membership passed a contract that is competitive and fair. I'm proud of our membership and their solidarity throughout these contract negotiations. The membership is the union, and our union is strong.”