WEST HARTFORD, Conn.—UAW Local 405 members launched an unfair labor practice strike at Triumph Engine Control Systems beginning at 5:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, after the company committed multiple unfair labor practices and refused to present a fair economic proposal that meets the membership’s needs. They were joined on the picket line by the Connecticut AFL-CIO, supporters from the community, and Rep. Julie Kushner, who chairs the labor committee of the state legislature and is formerly director of UAW Region 9A.
The 175 members of Local 405 perform highly skilled manufacturing, machining, assembly, and technical work supporting the aerospace industry. Their contract expired at midnight on Oct. 31.
Negotiations opened Sept. 22. The union presented its economic proposals on Oct. 15. The company did not respond with any economic proposal until Oct. 23, eight days before expiration. Talks broke down when the company acknowledged major movement by the union, then immediately presented a last, best and final offer and refused further discussion of the union’s core issues: job security, successorship, cost-of-living protection, aerospace sector standard wages, and healthcare costs
“A deal means two sides coming to an agreement, not the company dictating conditions to make lives harder for our membership and our families. We were always ready to negotiate but they gave us nothing, and handed us a take-it-or-leave-it offer instead with none of our priorities even acknowledged,” said UAW Local 405 President Ben Wilcox.
At an information picket prior to the strike vote, the workers were joined by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, State Rep. Kate Farrar from West Hartford, Attorney General William Tong, and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.
The highly profitable Triumph was purchased by private equity firms Warburg Pincus and Berkshire Partners last year for approximately $3 billion. The company has told the union it intends to sell the business again and has refused to agree to standard successorship language requiring a future buyer to recognize the union and the contract, an existential threat to the local.
“Wall Street didn’t build this plant, and they won’t be here to run it in five years. Our members will,” said UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla.
During the 2021-26 agreement, the company overhauled the health plan and shifted tens of thousands of dollars in deductibles and out-of-pocket costs onto members. Workers with chronic conditions such as MS, those facing catastrophic events including car accidents and cancer, and families with children who have genetic disorders have been hit hardest.
Members voted 148 to 1 to authorize a strike, with 86% participation. The union says it remains willing to meet at any time and has room to move toward an agreement on job security, healthcare and wages.
Scott Johnson, at Triumph for 20 years, told People’s World: “I am on strike because of the unfair insurance and they don’t want to recognize the union. Our wages are under the industry standard. The new owners laid off about 50 people, engineers, planners and buyers. They took away little things like our calendar, and our water dispenser.
“I just hope we can come to a fair agreement and get back to work,” said Johnson as he walked the picket line. “I haven’t been out of work this long since I started here 20 years ago.”
Like his co-workers, Johnson is worried about job security. “I am ready to get back to work, I just want a fair contract and job security,” he said, adding, “I want to know if they sell this place, that they are going to, that we have our job security. I don’t what them to sell the business and whoever buys it next lays everybody off. I have been working all along and I want to continue working. I enjoy working.”
Members of other unions are coming out to join Local 405 members in solidarity on the picket line at 1 Charter Oak Boulevard in West Hartford.
Local 405 is also collecting essential items to help members and their families while on strike. Including non-perishable food items, canned food and dry goods as well as diapers and baby supplies, soap, shampoo and toothpaste. at the Local 405 Union Hall, located at 666 Oakwood Avenue in West Hartford.
“This vote should send a clear message to Triumph Group that UAW Local 405 members are not settling for their abysmal proposals,” said Mancilla. “During the life of our last contract, Triumph Group made $680 million off the work of these members. Our members in West Hartford are no different than UAW aerospace workers across the country. Triumph can afford to do better and this vote is a sign that they must put a better offer forward.”
In addition to $687 million in profits over the same five-year duration as the term of the current union contract, Triumph’s CEO was paid $31.7 million, for a total of $61.6 million in the last decade.
Right now, new hires at Triumph are paid $25.25 per hour. The average wage for a Triumph worker is $39.34, with no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to protect against historic inflation. Meanwhile, the production and assembly rates for UAW members at Rolls Royce and GE Aerospace are $43.70 and $43.79, respectively, and they have cost-of-living protections.
“It was just hours before our strike vote that the company finally gave us an economic proposal – 8 days before our contract expiration,” said UAW Local 405 President Benjamin Wilcox. “Frankly, the company is still not taking our membership seriously. Here’s hoping the results of this strike vote helps convince them just how different we are doing things this year.”
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