The Virginian-Pilot
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Negotiators with Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and the union that represents 8,000 of its workers reached a tentative labor agreement early Saturday, United Steelworkers of America Local 8888 announced Saturday.
The union accomplished all of its major goals, including wage increases, pension plan improvements and keeping health-care costs low, said Dwight Kirk, a union spokesman. He declined to provide details until the union's members receive an update on the tentative agreement today.
They plan to meet at the Hampton University Convocation Center at 4 p.m. The 2004 contract expires at midnight today, but the workers will likely continue operating under its terms until a new agreement is ratified, Kirk said.
Claude W. DéBerry, a union representative and machinist who has worked at the shipyard for 25 years, said the terms will include annual raises of 3.75 to 4 percent for four years. The tentative contract also creates a 75/25 split for major medical expenses and institutes deductibles of $150 for a single worker and $300 for a family. He said it also provides six days for sick and personal leave beginning in July and raises the monthly pension payments to $1,250 through January 2011 and $1,350 through the end of the contract.
A vote to accept or reject the tentative agreement will likely be scheduled for early in the week, he said. If approved, it will go into effect Monday and last through March 10, 2013, according to a news release.
Fred Redmond, chief negotiator for the local union, expressed satisfaction with the tentative contract.
"It is a legacy agreement because the compensation package does more than fatten paychecks; it assures our members will be able to enjoy a better quality of living with their families," he said in a statement.
Northrop Grumman hopes the members will approve the agreement, Jennifer Dellapenta, a company spokeswoman, said in a statement.
"We are hopeful that they will present this offer to their membership as one that is very fair and contains significant economic and benefits enhancements," she said.
It's "designed to help attract and retain our union-eligible work force yet still provides us with the flexibility we need to operate in a very competitive business environment."
Kathy Adams, (757) 446-2583, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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Very Disappointed....soon to be ex-union member
Very Disappointed with the union....not the contract. It seemed the union was more interested in politics than the contract my calls and emails to the union went unanswered or not returned...turn out was low because no one passed the info on when and were to vote..
Workers of the world unite
This contract agreement is proof that unions are good for workers and the companies that employ them. The union members and there families quality of life will improve, and the company will continue to meet orders and production requirements. With our national economy being what it is, all rank and file workers should strive to organize there respective work places. A single worker does not have the bargaining power that an organized labor group does. Labor and management can work together for a single purpose. WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!!!