The Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) yesterday. The FY 2023 NDAA has now passed the House and the Senate and heads to President’s desk for his signature.

Thanks in part to the IAM’s efforts, the legislation provides for record funding levels for defense spending totaling $858.4 billion for national defense programs, including extensive funding for IAM-built programs.

Each year, the NDAA authorizes funding levels and provides authorities for the U.S. military and other critical defense priorities, ensuring our troops have the training, equipment, and resources they need to carry out their missions.   

Thanks to the IAM’s lobbying efforts, the 2023 NDAA authorizes funding for the following IAM- built and maintained programs:

• F-35 Joint Strike Fighters
• F-18 Super Hornet
• C-130J Super Hercules
• F-15 Eagles
• KC-46 Tankers
• P-8 Poseidons
• DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers
• Virginia-class Attack Submarines
• Columbia-class Ballistic Submarine program
• IAM-built missile system and ammunition manufacturing

The Machinists will continue to fight for robust funding for these programs and improvements in the ongoing negotiations over defense appropriations for the fiscal year 2023. 

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FORT WORTH, Texas, April 24, 2022 – Approximately 5,000 members of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 776 in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday voted to ratify a new contract with Lockheed Martin. The four-year, two-month contract takes effect Monday, April 25.

IAM members at the Fort Worth facility build the F-35, the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter. The IAM has long championed continued support for the F-35 program.

The new contract includes:
– 16% effective general wage increase over the life of the contract
– Additional cost-of-living adjustments and a $1,000 yearly cost-of-living supplement
– Improvements to retirement plan and maintains strong healthcare plan
– $4,000 ratification bonus
– Improvements in field pay, annual progression raises, shift premiums and more.

The IAM District 776 negotiating committee unanimously recommended the proposal. Contract negotiations had been ongoing since February. The contract also covers IAM members at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, and Patuxent River, MD.

“We have once again proven why the IAM is the largest and strongest aerospace and defense labor union in the world,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr., who began his IAM career as an aircraft assembler at the Fort Worth facility. “Our members stood strong and demanded a strong contract every step of the way. I want to thank the District 776 leadership and negotiating committee, the IAM Aerospace Department, the IAM Southern Territory and every department at the IAM Grand Lodge who supported these important negotiations.”

Negotiations were pivotal not only for IAM District 776 families, but for the Dallas-Fort Worth community, the state of Texas and the aerospace industry. The F-35 supply chain supports over 254,000 jobs with 1,800 suppliers spanning 48 states and Puerto Rico.

“We demanded an equitable contract that fairly compensated the best aerospace and defense workers in the world—and today, we succeeded,” said IAM District 776 President and Directing Business Representative Paul Black. “The solidarity and strength of our membership and negotiating committee carried us through this process.”

The IAM District 776 negotiating committee prepared for contract talks for more than six months, including a preparation session at the IAM’s Winpisinger Education and Technology Center, which included trainings on contract language, strategic planning, contract costing and a negotiation simulation.

“Our negotiating team made it clear that retirement security, and increasing 401(k) plan funding, was critical to ratifying a contract,” said IAM Aerospace General Vice President Mark Blondin. “I’m proud to report that we have delivered on retirement security and much more for our membership.”

READ: Machinists Union advocacy grows bipartisan support for F-35 program goIAM

“IAM District 776 members are rightfully proud of the work they do to support our military,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “Thanks to the strength of this negotiating committee and the membership, we have secured a fair and equitable contract that will secure the futures of our members and their families.”

READ: Here’s why Lockheed’s F-35 program remains vital to U.S. security, Fort Worth economy Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“I could not be more proud of the work done by this negotiating committee,” said IAM Aerospace Chief of Staff Jody Bennett. “We used every resource necessary to achieve our goal—a contract that delivers pay and benefit increases for our membership.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, manufacturing, transit, healthcare, automotive and other industries.

goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

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WASHINGTON, March 15, 2022 – IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. sent a letter to President Biden urging a robust F-35 Lightning II program investment in the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Department budget request.The F-35 program currently provides for tens of thousands of high-quality Machinists Union jobs, supports more than 250,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide, and is the only 5^th generation stealth fighter currently in production. 

“Thousands of Machinists Union members and their families across the country rely on these irreplaceable jobs supported by the program—from the F-35 primary production facility in Fort Worth, Texas to its engine manufacturing facility in Middletown, Connecticut and across the program’s vast network of suppliers from West Palm Beach, Florida to northern California,” said Martinez. “All told, the F-35 program supports more than 254,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide. The program’s network of suppliers includes more than 1,800 first-tier suppliers across the country supporting high-skilled jobs and more than $49 billion in annual economic impact spread across all 50 states. Your administration’s strong budgetary support of the F-35 Lightning II program is necessary to support these workers, the companies that employ them, and the domestic aerospace supply chain they robustly reinforce.”

Many Machinists Union members working on the F-35 program are U.S. military veterans. Supporting the F-35 program means good jobs for veterans and their families. Machinists Union members are the most talented and experienced aerospace and defense workers in the world. 

The full letter can be found here.  

Website: F-35: Made with Pride by Machinists Union Members

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

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Approximately 5,000 members of IAM District 776 in Fort Worth, TX opened contract negotiations on Tuesday with Lockheed Martin. The IAM negotiating team vowed to pursue a fair and equitable contract that treats the highly-skilled and dedicated members with the respect they have earned.

The IAM District 776 negotiating committee will meet with the company over the coming weeks. The current contract is set to expire on Sunday, April 24, 2022.

IAM members at the facility build the F-35, the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter. Negotiations are pivotal not only for IAM District 776 families, but for the Dallas-Fort Worth community, the state of Texas and the aerospace industry. The F-35 supply chain supports over 254,000 jobs with 1,800 suppliers spanning 48 states and Puerto Rico.

“IAM members demand and have earned their fair share of the success they have created for Lockheed Martin,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr., who began his IAM career at the Fort Worth facility. “Our members have worked through a pandemic. They are the single greatest reason for this company’s success. Now, it’s time to work together to make a fair and equitable contract happen for our membership.”

The IAM District 776 negotiating committee has been preparing for contract talks for more than six months, including a preparation session at the IAM’s Winpisinger Center, which included trainings on contract language, strategic planning, contract costing and a negotiation simulation.

“We are ready to negotiate a fair contract, and we won’t settle for anything less,” said IAM District 776 President and Directing Business Representative Paul Black. “Our membership is mobilized and ready to do what it takes to preserve and grow good jobs for our families and our communities.”

Last year, a group of about 200 District 776 shop stewards at the facility took part in a day-long program in preparation for the upcoming contract negotiations.

READ: Here’s why Lockheed’s F-35 program remains vital to U.S. security, Fort Worth economy Fort Worth Star-Telegram

”Our skilled membership dedicates decades of their lives to making this company successful,” said IAM Aerospace General Vice President Mark Blondin. “We will do everything in our power to ensure the company does its part to ensure a stable retirement for all of our members, including adequately funding its 401(k) program.”

READ: Machinists Union advocacy grows bipartisan support for F-35 program goIAM

“Our District 776 members at Lockheed Martin are rightfully proud of the work they do,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “Many of our members are U.S. military veterans who have transitioned into a different way to support their country. They deserve a fair amount of the profit they have created.”

READ: Our national security depends on a strong F-35 program built by American workers The Hill

“This committee is ready and prepared to negotiate a strong contract,” said IAM Aerospace Chief of Staff Jody Bennett. “The full resources of the IAM and our allies are being deployed to ensure that these families and their communities are represented and heard at the bargaining table.”

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IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. recently sent a letter to White House advisors Steve Ricchetti, Senior Advisor to President Biden, and Cedric Richmond, director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, bolstering support for the F-35 Lightning II Program. Media outlets have recently reported that the Department of Defense may cut back on the number of aircraft for the U.S. Armed Services.

“The F-35 program strengthens national security, enhances global partnerships, and powers economic growth,” said Martinez. “We are proud to represent workers across the country who produce, deliver, maintain and support this critical defense program. From production workers in Ft. Worth to suppliers in nearly every state, to maintenance depot from coast to coast; the F-35 program creates high-quality, Machinists Union jobs.”

The full letter can be read here.

In a letter to the @WhiteHouse, @IAMBobMartinez explains the union pride and loyalty Machinist Members have for the @thef35 and why a 5th generation aircraft is essential for our national security and the economy. https://t.co/M6LtxQETVu pic.twitter.com/jkAMLL4Pgl

— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) March 11, 2021

Read: Why Unions Love the F-35 Stealth Fighter National Interest  

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