IAM&AW Local Lodge 1786: Ellington Members Ratify Dyncorp/ IAMAW CBA

The Membership of the IAMAW District Lodge 37, Local Lodge 1786, Ellington Field NASA aircraft support contract currently held by Dyncorp International ratified the negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement Union contract for the next three (3) years.

The Negotiation Committee was made up of Richard Phillips (Chief), Chris Young, Johnny Mims, and Brian Wooley, with support from Brother Byron Williams (District 37 DBR), and Grand Lodge Representative Brother Tony Blevins.

The Negotiations carried on for several days as defined in the previous blog entries. The final stumbling block was, of course, Insurance. Brother Chris Young took the helm on this issue. During the Bridge Agreement two months ago, it was agreed and thought to be understood that the new company assuming the NASA aircraft support contract would provide "comparable" health insurance to that of the outgoing contractor. For the last two months the membership has been painfully aware that there were in no way any similarities in the provided health insurance, and that was a problem.

Chris really did his homework and addressed the issue head on. He was able to provide information that through tenacious diligence was able to convince the company that there were other options available that would benefit the company as well as the membership more so than the original plan. His educated brief was convincing enough that the plan was adopted by the company for presentation to the attending membership.

The details will be made available for all in the (yet to be printed) contract book that will be made available after all the paperwork has been signed and books printed.

Congratulations to all the hard working IAM & AW members on the NASA Aircraft Support Contract on a contract that you can be proud of.

Great work!! to the Committee and our utmost thanks for the support of Brother Byron Williams and Brother Tony Blevins, your time and dedication is most assuredly appreciated.