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Union Vows to Press Ahead to Preserve Conn. Jobs
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. --
The Machinists union vowed Saturday to continue fighting to preserve jobs at Pratt & Whitney as the jet engine maker considers appealing a court ruling that halted its plans to move 1,000 jobs out of Connecticut.
Union officials spoke at a news conference that quickly became a victory rally celebrating the federal court order issued late Friday. They said they are confident they will win an appeal.
Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., said Friday it had not decided whether to appeal the ruling that prohibits it from shutting its engine overhaul and repair plant in Cheshire by early 2011 and shifting repair operations from its East Hartford facility beginning in the second quarter of this year.
The company, citing a steep downturn in the aerospace industry, announced in September its plans to move jobs to Columbus, Ga., Singapore and Japan. Operating profit at Pratt & Whitney fell nearly 14 percent last year, to $1.84 billion from $2.12 billion in 2008.
The federal court order was a significant win for the union, which is struggling to overcome global trade pressures, beat back arguments that union wages in Connecticut are too high relative to Asia and the South and get through a steep downturn in the aerospace industry.
"It's a big victory for the state of Connecticut, our state economy and our communities where workers spend their money," said James Parent, the union local's chief negotiator.
Union leaders, surrounded by several Democratic elected officials, said they expect another battle over jobs in December when the Machinists' contract with the company expires. The union may then negotiate the issue or call a strike.
