More than 3,000 Pratt & Whitney machinists who work at jet-engine maker’s plants in East Hartford and Middletown went on strike Monday, after rejecting Sunday the company’s proposed new contract.
The strike marks the first work stoppage since 2001 by Connecticut-based machinists at Pratt & Whitney, which is one of the largest employers in the state.
The members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Locals 700 and 1746 went on strike at Pratt & Whitney’s plants in East Hartford and Middletown starting at midnight, citing inadequate wage increases, weakening of their retirement benefits, rising health insurance costs and a lack of job security commitments.
The strike comes after an overwhelming majority of workers voted against ratifying the Connecticut-based aerospace giant’s latest contract offer, which includes an increase in Pratt & Whitney’s 401(k) contribution rate in 2028, and a step-down wage increase rate of 4 percent immediately, 3.5 percent in 2026 and 3 percent in 2027, according to the company.
Wayne McCarthy, president of IAM Local 700, which represents approximately 1,400 members at the Middletown plant, said:
“For months, we have negotiated in good faith with Pratt & Whitney in hopes of reaching a fair contract that reflects the billions in profits our members make for the company,” “The last offer by Pratt was an insult to the machinists who make the best jet engines in the world.”
The company in a statement said the latest offer “competitively compensates our workforce while ensuring P&W can grow in an increasingly competitive marketplace, creating ongoing economic opportunity in the state of Connecticut.” The statement also indicated that the company has no immediate plans to resume negotiations.
Statement from Pratt & Whitney in which the company defended its offer:
“Pratt & Whitney’s offer competitively compensates our workforce while ensuring P&W can grow in an increasingly competitive marketplace, creating ongoing economic opportunity in the state of Connecticut. Our message to union leaders throughout this thoughtful process has been simple: higher pay, better retirement savings, more days off and more flexibility. Our local workforce is among the highest compensated in the region and the industry – our offer built on that foundation. We have no immediate plans to resume negotiations at this time and we have contingency plans in place to maintain operations and to meet our customer commitments.”
As per the Unions, the vote is result of growing frustration among Pratt & Whitney machinists after the company’s recent decision to force workers to take unpaid furlough days despite over $100 billion in back orders.
Howie Huestis, President of IAM Local 1746, which represents over 1,600 members at the East Hartford plant, said:
“This strike is about dignity, respect, job security and protecting middle-class jobs in Connecticut,” “Workers at Pratt & Whitney in Florida saw larger wage increases than they offered here. We are ready to hold the line for as long as it takes to secure a contract that recognizes the value we create every single day for the company.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT and representatives Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd, and John Larson, D-1st, issued statements in support of the striking workers.
“I stand with machinists in fighting for basic workplace fairness — decent, well-deserved pay, pensions and job security,” Blumenthal said. “Our state’s prosperity and progress depends on proper, fair treatment of workers, especially at Pratt, where their products are critical to our national defense.”
Larson in his statement said the workers build and maintain the best engines in the world.
“Record company profits and an increasing market demand for these engines are a testament to the hard work of our region’s machinists and engineers,” according to a statement from Larson’s office.
“When RTX employees in Florida are being offered larger raises, the skilled and reliable workforce with a long history of making the best engines in the world here in Connecticut should be treated equally for their labor.”
DeLauro emphasized the importance of the industry to the state economy and national defense.
“I am hopeful that an agreement can be reached that reflects the immense value these workers bring to Pratt & Whitney every day,” she wrote.
In a joint statement, Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz attributed Pratt & Whitney’s success to its “amazing workers” and urged the company and the machinists union to “come together to reach a fair deal that is negotiated in good faith.”
“Pratt and Whitney is a world leader in manufacturing aircraft engines because of their amazing workers, who are critical to the success of our nation’s manufacturing future. We strongly encourage the company’s leadership and the machinists union to come together to reach a fair deal that is negotiated in good faith.”
Earlier, at an IAM meeting Sunday in Wallingford, about 80% of the machinists had voted to reject Pratt & Whitney’s contract offer, while 77% voted to approve a strike.
