Pratt & Whitney, Connecticut Machinists Reach Tentative Strike Deal

Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation and a major player in aerospace engine manufacturing, faced a strike by over 3,000 machinists in Connecticut beginning May 5, 2025, due to concerns over job security, inadequate wage increases, reduced retirement benefits, and healthcare coverage. The union members, part of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, overwhelmingly voted to strike, marking their first walkout since 2001. After weeks of negotiations, Pratt & Whitney and the union reached a tentative agreement that includes an 18.6% increase in total pay, bonuses, and retirement benefits over three years, along with an immediate 4% wage increase and a $5,000 bonus upon contract approval, although some union members initially felt the offer fell short. The final contract proposal was set for a ratification vote by union members on May 27, 2025. During the strike, union members received weekly strike pay, and state legislators debated bills to provide unemployment benefits to long-term striking workers, aiming to support labor actions amid ongoing disputes in Connecticut's manufacturing sector. The tentative deal, if approved, would end the strike and restore production at Pratt & Whitney's Connecticut plants.