Union employees ratify new contract at Radford arsenal
Oct 06, 2012 (Menafn - The Roanoke Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Union workers at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant will get raises and a cap on health insurance premium increases under a new, three-year contract, a union official said.
A contract proposal recently negotiated by the United Steelworkers Local 8-495 and contractor BAE Systems Inc. was adopted by a 2-to-1 margin in voting Thursday, said David Harrell, vice president of the union, on Friday.
The workers, who earn 19 to 26 hourly, will receive raises of 50 cents per hour on Monday, 52 cents per hour in the second year and 52 cents per hour in the third year, Harrell said.
About 45 workers throughout the plant will receive an additional 50 cents hourly due to creation of new job titles and new equipment, Harrell said.
In addition, the contract will limit increases in health insurance premiums to no more than 8 a year for single-employee enrollees and 20 a year for family-plan enrollees, Harrell said. BAE Systems will assume responsibility for any additional money due to maintain employees' insurance coverage, Harrell said.
The new contract is the first between the union at the government-owned propellant facility and BAE, which just completed 90 days as the facility's contract operator. BAE employs between 450 and 500 union-represented workers, according to Robert Stoots, president of USW Local 8-495.
BAE said it is pleased by the new contract and that the company and union had constructive, professional contract talks.
"We look forward to continuing that relationship," said a statement from company spokesman Neil Franz. "The highly skilled employees at Radford are critical to the plant's success in meeting customer needs and helping to protect the nation."
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