UAW Local 647's Victory: A Triumph for Labor in the Aerospace Industry

CINCINNATI—After an intense, two-week strike, UAW Local 647 members at GE Aerospace have secured a strong tentative agreement with the company. The major victory comes just after the strike’s two-week anniversary and was won via the courage and solidarity of over 600 Cincinnati-area workers between GE’s Erlanger, KY, and Evendale, OH facilities who held strong on the picket like 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“UAW Local 647 members showed that you don’t beat a multi-billion-dollar company by backing down—you win by standing up and joining together in a common cause,” said UAW President Shawn Fain.

Of the three main sticking points that mobilized UAW Local 647 members to stand firm when GE forced workers to the streets at midnight on August 28—job security, health care costs, and time off—workers secured victories on all fronts. The company will cover nearly all health care premium increases over the term of the contract and workers will receive additional vacation time. The deal also secures strong job security protections for both Erlanger and Evendale locations, including minimum headcount and new work.

“I’m so proud of how UAW Local 647 stuck together,” said UAW Local 647 President Brian Strunk. “Our members held strong and had the courage to fight for more. Our bargaining team delivered on our members’ main demands: strong job security, more time off the job to spend with families, and money to offset the health care cost increase. My message to my entire UAW family: Continue to do the right thing, speak the truth, stand in unity, and you will prosper!”

The tentative agreement covers a five-year term, with a ratification vote set for Friday, September 19.

“Companies need to respect the UAW,” said UAW Region 2B Director Dave Green. “We’ve made a choice to do things differently as a union and our members at GE Aerospace are part of that. They knew they had to fight for a better contract today, in order to protect their tomorrow. I am proud of the resilience and grit Local 647’s members and leaders displayed to protect their future.”

Throughout the strike, GE workers shared their stories with local media, while keeping the full membership up to date with bargaining updates on the website and through text every day. This communication was critical in maintaining workers’ solidarity to secure a TA addressing the most critical concerns that led to the walk out.

“After 31 years at GE, I was tired of their corporate greed,” said Don Luknis, UAW Local 647 member, and strike captain out of GE’s Evendale facility. “I’m proud of our teamwork to keep each other going along the way. UAW Local 647 is a stronger union now than the day we walked out on strike against this corporate giant. One day longer, one day stronger!”

UAW members in Evendale, the larger facility, proudly build marine and industrial engines for the U.S. Navy. In Erlanger, UAW members are the distribution heart of GE global—feeding plants all over the world. The strike was the first UAW strike at GE since 1988.

This victory is a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of standing up for workers' rights. The UAW Local 647 members have shown that even in the face of a multi-billion-dollar corporation, workers can achieve significant gains through solidarity and determination. This strike serves as a reminder that unions play a crucial role in ensuring fair wages, job security, and better working conditions for all workers.

The successful negotiation of the UAW Local 647 members with GE Aerospace has significant implications for the broader labor relations landscape in the aerospace industry. This negotiation highlights the importance of collective bargaining and the power of organized labor in securing better working conditions, wages, and benefits for employees. By achieving a favorable agreement, UAW Local 647 has set a precedent for other unions in the aerospace industry, demonstrating that effective negotiation can lead to improved labor standards and worker protections.

One key aspect of this negotiation is the focus on job security and benefits. The agreement includes provisions for job security, ensuring that workers have stable employment and are protected from layoffs. This is particularly important in an industry like aerospace, where economic fluctuations and changes in government contracts can lead to job instability. By securing job security, UAW Local 647 has shown that unions can play a crucial role in providing stability for workers in a volatile industry.

Another significant aspect is the emphasis on fair wages and benefits. The agreement includes wage increases and improved benefits, which not only benefit the current workforce but also set a benchmark for future negotiations. This can encourage other unions to push for similar improvements in their own collective bargaining agreements, leading to a broader improvement in labor standards across the industry.

The successful negotiation also highlights the importance of worker solidarity and collective action. The UAW Local 647 members demonstrated unity and determination in their negotiations, which was a key factor in achieving a favorable outcome. This can inspire other workers in the aerospace industry to organize and advocate for their rights, leading to a stronger labor movement overall.

In terms of implications for future collective bargaining agreements, the successful negotiation with GE Aerospace serves as a model for other unions. It shows that unions can achieve significant gains through effective negotiation and collective action. This can encourage other unions to adopt similar strategies and push for better working conditions, wages, and benefits in their own negotiations.

Overall, the successful negotiation of the UAW Local 647 members with GE Aerospace has a positive impact on the broader labor relations landscape in the aerospace industry. It sets a precedent for effective collective bargaining, highlights the importance of job security and fair wages, and demonstrates the power of worker solidarity. These factors can lead to improved labor standards and worker protections across the industry, benefiting both current and future workers.