GE Aerospace, General Electric

GE Aerospace and the United Auto Workers (UAW) tentatively agreed on 12 September to a five-year employment contract that could end a strike affecting company sites near Cincinnati.

“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the UAW… We look forward to continuing to work side by side to serve our customers and build our future together,” says GE.

“The next step is for the UAW to hold a vote on the agreement,” the company adds. The strike will end if members approve the deal.

More than 600 UAW members walked off the job on 28 August after union leaders rejected a previous contract proposal from GE that would have provided workers with a 12% general pay increase over the contract term.

Union leaders rejected that deal without putting it up for a member vote, citing a large increase in healthcare costs.

The striking employees work at GE’s Evendale site in Ohio and Erlanger facility in Kentucky near Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky International airport.

The Evendale location performs work related to “aero-derivative” engines used for marine and industrial applications, while the Erlanger site ships new and spare aircraft engine parts.

“After a long and challenging path, your bargaining committee is proud to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with the company,” says the UAW Local 647 arm that represents the GE workers. “This five-year agreement delivers significant wins for our members.”

The union says it will hold a member vote next week. It requests members continue striking until an agreement is ratified.

The new agreement would provide the union with a “minimum workforce guarantee”. Employees would receive $3,500 in cash to “offset rising healthcare costs”, and more time off.

Neither party discloses more details.