Lockheed Martin Targets Machinists at Sandia National Laboratories

WASHINGTON, June 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today called on Lockheed Martin to withdraw a proposal to outsource more than 100 safety sensitive positions at Sandia National Laboratories at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M. The move would replace trained, experienced personnel at the facility with vendors in twenty-three outside locations.

“Lockheed Martin is citing pressure to cut costs from the Department of Energy (DOE) as the reason to outsource the jobs, which includes work on nuclear weapons, satellite components and tasks for the Department of Homeland Security,” said Bill Sena, president of the regional Metal Trades Council. “Our members have done this work inside Sandia Laboratories for more than 50 years, and they should not be displaced for cost savings that Lockheed has failed to justify.”

The announcement by Lockheed Martin that they plan eliminating the IAM’s work in the machine shop comes in the midst of contract negotiations and despite offers to extend the current contract.

Since 1950, members of IAM Local 1689 have performed precision machining and maintenance work at Sandia National Laboratories. Since the early 1990′s, IAM members at Sandia Labs have been employed by Lockheed Martin under the Service Contract Act, which governs labor relations at many government facilities.

The IAM is among the nation’s largest industrial trade unions, representing nearly 700,000 active and retired members under more than 5,000 contracts in aerospace, transportation, shipbuilding and defense-related industries. For more information, visit www.goiam.org.

SOURCE International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers