Machinists approve contract with ULA

United Launch Alliance learned Sunday that a new contract, which includes workers at the company's three sites, has been accepted by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

The union represents 850 workers at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Decatur, Ala., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Ratification of the 3.5-year contract came after IAMAW leadership recommended acceptance of the contract to its members.

Some 340 workers at the Cape, out of about 800 ULA employees, are covered by the contract.

Negotiations began Oct. 6 and ended Nov. 9, with the ratification vote.

"We're pleased that the employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have ratified a combined agreement covering multiple sites and multiple locals," said Michael Gass, ULA president and chief executive officer. "This is a major step forward in our progress toward becoming one company, and it will enable workers at our launch and production sites to work on all of our launch vehicles. The negotiating teams worked very hard to improve the pay and benefits for the represented employees and to maintain ULA's competitiveness and operational efficiency."

Boeing and Lockheed Martin joined in December 2006 to form ULA, which offers the Atlas V, Delta II and Delta IV to the U.S. government.