After a notable contract campaign, UAW Local 571 members have ratified a new agreement with General Dynamics – Electric Boat. The ratification vote saw an 85% approval from the members.
The local leadership opted for transparency during negotiations, providing regular updates to their membership instead of engaging in closed-door bargaining. Union members established a network of over 100 strike captains and enlisted more than 2,200 members for picket duty, representing over 90% of the bargaining unit.
This member-driven effort led to significant achievements for the Marine Draftsmen Association (MDA). The five-year contract affects more than 2,400 workers in Groton who are involved in designing nuclear submarines. It includes a 30% wage increase over the duration of the agreement and improved wage progression. MDA-UAW members will experience a cumulative $115,000 per-member increase in total compensation throughout the contract period.
“We did negotiations differently this time,” stated Bill Louis, President of Local 571. “Our members worked hard and got involved in our campaign. After more than a decade of ‘living to fight another day,’ we finally stood up and won the respect that all workers deserve.”
UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla added, “I want to congratulate the members of MDA-UAW. They showed that you don’t need to play by management’s rules. When union members get involved in the bargaining process, we win contracts that raise the standard for the entire working class.”
