EB employees will rally in support of contract negotiations
Photo | Contributed
Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard.
Members of MDA/UAW Local 571 say they plan to rally outside Electric Boat Thursday afternoon after the expiration of a contract with the submarine builder.
The union is demanding better wages and retirement security for 2,400 of its members who work at the Groton yard as marine drafters. The employees are continuing to work under the terms of the contract that expired April 4, and negotiations are ongoing.
The rally is one of a series of actions planned by the union ahead of a membership meeting on April 14.
The union says that General Dynamics, Electric Boat’s parent company, is pushing for higher health insurance contributions from workers in a renegotiated contract.
The union has surveyed members about their willingness to strike in recent weeks. A survey taken in March showed that 85% of those who responded would back a stoppage.
The union is demanding the restoration of pensions for all members. It says EB has not offered new employees pensions in recent years, which has left them concerned about retirement security.
It’s also looking for wage increases, a system to ensure cost-of-living adjustments in wages, and profit-sharing.
Electric Boat issued a statement saying it has presented its "best and final offer to MDA leadership last week."
The company said the offer provides historic wage growth, a continuation of a premium benefits package and retirement enhancement for all employees.
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