Day 12 - Bargaining Update

Brothers & Sisters

Today, with our membership moving strike pledge cards and everyone in red in the plant, the Union was able to make more progress on backing the company down from concessions on our seniority and leave, and progress on protecting our overtime equalization. And we have backed the company off their attempt to change our personal-medical leave of absence coverage from 52 weeks to 26 weeks! 

Unbelievably, the company is still holding their economic proposals. Even after we sent them an official letter (see below) asking them for information on healthcare they were supposed to provide before bargaining. We also gave the company a deadline to provide their economics by today. Remember, the Union provided its full package of economics last Friday (minus healthcare, which requires info from the company.) And it is not normal to wait until the final days for either party to give their economics. And just like with the contract expiration, a deadline is a deadline in the UAW.

We have been clear with the company - all they have to do is make good-faith movement on our members’ survey priorities:

• Wages
• COLA (to protect us from historic inflation)
• Affordable Healthcare
• Job Security
• No Concessions

If the company makes serious movement toward a deal, we can have a diplomatic process. But when they hide information, refuse to present economics, and blow past deadlines, we have no choice but to take the next step available.

97% of our membership have signed the strike pledge and we have been getting a lot of questions about when we will hold the strike authorization vote. Based on the company’s behavior, now is the time.

So we will be holding our strike authorization vote this Friday October 23rd 2026, 11:15AM-8:00PM and Saturday (October 24th) from 8:00AM -3:00PM at the Union Hall (666 Oakwood Ave West Hartford, CT 06110) And info meetings Thursday from 1:30PM to 4:00PM at the Union Hall to answer member questions directly.

Triumph Group has made $680 million on our work during the life of this contract. Meanwhile they sprung massive healthcare costs on us, and we lost 21% of our wage gains to inflation since this contract began. The company can afford everything our members need plus still have plenty of profits.

Your bargaining committee supports an overwhelming Yes vote on the strike authorization. It doesn’t mean we are going on strike, but will empower the committee to call one if the company doesn’t make a fair deal on our members’ priorities by October 31 at midnight.

So show out and vote!

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee