HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss.–It was five days on strike for workers at the Stennis Space Center who were part of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers 2249. Tuesday union members got a new contract with Lockheed Martin and went back to work with better pay and benefits.
That’s what those union members said, but they are still working on a big sticking point: their retirement pension has been converted to a 401K plan.
The union said they will still work to try and change that.
This is Lockheed Martin’s statement:
We’re pleased that the union members voted to accept the company’s last, best and final offer, and will return to work by Wednesday, May 21. The ratification of this new, three-year contract is excellent news for our company, the represented employees, their communities and the customer.
The union said it will be ready to take up the pension plan when negotiations happen again.
Stennis is the site for a new rocket engine test program that could see engines fueled by methane. It is a key player in the future of NASA space flight missions.
