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   Vol.65/No.48            December 17, 2001 
 
 
Strike of 5,000 defends union
at Pratt and Whitney in Connecticut
(front page)
 
BY JACK WILLEY  
EAST HARTFORD, Connecticut--Five thousand union members walked off the job here December 3 against Pratt & Whitney, a company that is among the largest makers of jet engines for commercial and military planes in the world.

Workers prepared for the strike by holding periodic rallies in the plant of up to 1,000 people, said union member Geraldine Provite.

"In 1985 a number of people crossed the picket line, but this time there are only a few," Mary McClam said on the picket line. "There is stronger determination in the union and more people have said, 'enough is enough--we've had it,'" she stated. Workers belong to four locals of the International Association of Machinists.

McClam, with 26 years at the plant, one of four in the area, said union members "want to retire at 55 years old after 30 years. The company wants to raise that to 58. The medical insurance for retirees is outrageous. We gave back in previous contracts, including reopeners, but they always seem to be able to give bonuses to the higher-ups and cry poor when it comes to us."

More than 4,000 of the eligible 5,100 union members turned out for the strike vote and 70 percent cast their ballot to walk out. Many cited concerns over the company's contracting out of work and threats to move the plants elsewhere.

"The bottom line for us is job security," said Wayne McCarthy, president of Local 707 here. "The company says they want to move jobs out of Connecticut and we know they want to have people there work for less and nonunion."

The local president said the strikers have received support from Teamsters, postal workers, and several local restaurants and businesses. A tent near the lively picket line of 50 union members was supplied with food donated by strike supporters.

The company has responded by putting 2,000 managers and salaried employees to work covering union members' jobs, vowing to meet deadlines for customers.  
 
 
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