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Connecticut lawmakers applaud Pratt & Whitney contract agreement

Connecticut lawmakers applaud Pratt & Whitney contract agreement

Yahoo27-05-2025

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — State lawmakers commend Pratt & Whitney union members' new contract agreement Tuesday following a nearly month-long strike with the company.
The agreement was confirmed by a spokesperson with Pratt & Whitney, who said Connecticut IAM employees voted to ratify a revised new contract offer, marking the end of the strike.
Pratt & Whitney union members approve new contract, strike concludes
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) showed her support for the resolution in a written statement.
'I am glad IAM Locals 1746 and 700 and Pratt & Whitney reached a resolution. When workers fight together, their unions can achieve outcomes that reflect their true value. These highly skilled workers fuel our state economy and contribute to our national defense, and this new agreement means all parties can move forward with renewed stability. I will always stand with workers fighting for fairer wages and strong benefits.'
For weeks, union members endured rain, cold and long nights as they negotiated a new contract. The previous one expired on May 4, when strikes began.
'Connecticut's skilled machinists have a long history of making the most advanced and reliable engines in the world at Pratt & Whitney, right here in East Hartford and Middletown,' State Rep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.) said. 'I am glad to see an agreement for better wages and benefits that honors their work, as well as a firm commitment from RTX to grow its workforce in Connecticut. I applaud the 3,000 machinists who courageously stood up for the dignity of work during this strike and congratulate IAM leadership and RTX on successful negotiations for a new contract agreement.'
Striking points in the negotiations included higher wages and pensions for younger workers.
Sen. Stephen Harding (R-Conn.) said this shows how unaffordable the state can be for employers and their employees.
'Pratt & Whitney and its workers are part of the backbone of Connecticut's economy. This strike showed how unaffordable Connecticut is for both job creators and their employees. Gov. Lamont: Senate Democrat leadership's priority legislation is to give taxpayer-funded unemployment benefits to striking workers. A veto threat from you would be very helpful, because that anti-business bill essentially tells companies to not do business in Connecticut. These strikes will continue to happen in the future unless and until we turn Connecticut's anti-job creator policies around. Republicans at the State Capitol continue fighting to lower energy costs, lower taxes, defend our government spending caps, and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in state government.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Some of President Donald Trump's most vocal critics, including both Democrats and Republicans, defended his decision to strike Iran over the weekend. Why It Matters Trump on Saturday said the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan—amid Tehran's ongoing conflict with Israel. American officials have long been concerned that Iran was working to develop nuclear weapons, that Iranian officials say its program is only focused on energy production. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified in March that Iran was not working on developing a nuclear weapon. The strikes divided Americans, as polls suggest many are skeptical of the U.S. becoming involved in the conflict. 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I thought somebody should do it for a long time, but better late than never." Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who challenged Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, said Trump deserves an "enormous amount of credit" for the strikes during an interview on ABC News. "This is against type for him. I'm sure it was a difficult decision. I think his analysis was, he cannot live with a nuclear weapon in Iran, and Israel did all of the heavy lifting," he said. Ex-GOP Governor Raises 'Great Doubts' About Trump's Iran Strikes to Newsweek Some Republican critics raised concerns about the strikes. Christine Todd Whitman, the former Republican governor of New Jersey who has been sharply critical of the party's shift toward Trump, told Newsweek she has "great doubts" about the decision. 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The conflict could have significant impacts for millions of people living in the region, as well as economic impacts that could reverberate back to the U.S.

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