ULA…Two Launches In A Week One With A Rocket The Other With A Union

[SatNews] Launches and votes, two successful ventures in one week… United Launch Alliance was notified today that the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) representing its workforce at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, Decatur, Alabama, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, has accepted the company’s new three-year contract offer. This concludes the 2012 contract negotiation process which began several weeks ago.

The new contract covers approximately 860 represented bargaining unit employees from District Lodges #75, #166 and #725 which includes Locals #44, #610, #1163, #2024 and #2786 performing work for the Atlas V, Delta II and Delta IV Programs at both east and west coast ULA Launch Operations and Decatur Manufacturing Facility.

The contract will become effective at 12:01 a.m., May 7.  Negotiations on the new contract officially started April 16 and ended May 2, with the ratification vote held in all three geographical locations affected by this contract occurring May 6.

“We’re pleased that the employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have ratified an agreement that is key to continuing ULA’s success in the future,” said Michael Gass, ULA President and Chief Executive Officer.

“The represented employees’ contributions have propelled ULA forward in delivering critical capabilities for our nation and our customers. The negotiating teams worked very hard to improve the pay and benefits for the represented employees and to maintain ULA’s competitiveness and operational efficiency.”