Approximately 317 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 850 in Oklahoma City have ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). The contract covers full-time, part-time, and casual Air Traffic Controller Instructors at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.
The agreement was approved on August 19. It includes a 3% annual wage increase for each year of the contract. Members who live outside Oklahoma City will receive an additional $30 per day to help cover commuting costs. There are also increased daily bonuses for working during federal holidays and peak periods between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The contract strengthens protections for veterans by granting IAM’s Veterans Services Department annual access to the facility to assist members with VA claims. Other updates address key areas of the collective bargaining agreement.
Craig Martin, Southern Territory General Vice President for IAM Union, said, “This agreement is a major step forward for our members who dedicate themselves to training the next generation of air traffic controllers. We still have some work to do to help us recruit and retain instructors while improving quality of life for a workforce that has carried a heavy load to meet the mission.”
Many instructors routinely work double shifts and long hours to support Federal Aviation Administration training requirements. Ben Moody, President and Directing Business Representative of IAM District 171, stated, “Our members take tremendous pride in their work and in the critical role they play in our nation’s aviation safety. This contract recognizes that sacrifice and lays the foundation to ensure the FAA has the skilled instructors it needs for years to come.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 600,000 active and retired members across several industries in North America.
