It appears the 10-week-long labor dispute between Lockheed Martin and the International Association of Machinists in Fort Worth could end this week, if union members vote to accept a tentative agreement today. The proposal was hammered out in four days of negotiations between the company and union with the assistance of a federal mediator. Undoubtedly, the terms of the contract are not exactly what either side would have wanted if they had their way. Both sides had to compromise, and both sides did compromise.
Articles and messages in the social media have been written this week by armchair commentators who want to interpret the new labor contract and say which side "won" in the strike. The answer is that neither side "won" all the way. However, if union members get back to work next week with the stability and security of a new four-year labor agreement, and if Lockheed Martin gets back to building airplanes, it won't be a stretch to say the resolution can be chalked up as a "win" for both parties.The union members can take pride knowing they stood their ground for 10 weeks over principles they believe in and came out of it with better health insurance options and some other additions over what the company originally wanted to give them.For its part, the company laid some groundwork for improved affordability in its products and will now have the union members back doing what they do best, building sophisticated fighter aircraft to meet the commitments Lockheed Martin has made to its customers. And nothing could be more important at this time for the company's F-35 and F-16 programs.The F-35 is crucial to the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and military forces of a growing slate of allies. But it's under threat right now from adversaries who'd like to see our shrinking defense budget spent on other federal programs.Besides the threat from people who've never cared for the F-35 and don't think it's needed, the entire U.S. defense industry could be decimated if the bad law known as "sequestration" takes effect next year, leading to about $1 trillion in proposed cuts to the defense budget over the next decade.The F-16 program is continuing on international sales but potential customers such as Taiwan need to know the aircraft is still being turned out with high quality and efficiency.Both programs are vitally important to North Texas because of the thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in annual economic benefits they provide via Lockheed Martin and numerous other suppliers in the region.The strike has been acrimonious, with homemade signs alleging "corporate greed" displayed on a giant inflatable rat and on a miniature donkey paraded along the picket line in front of the Lockheed plant. Lockheed Martin used the tough tactic of hiring temporary workers as the strike continued.The time has come for both sides to put their differences behind them and join forces to fight the even larger challenges they face in keeping the F-35 program sold and in marshaling forces against the insane policy of sequestration.The process toward reconciliation and teamwork could begin today with a "yes" vote on the new labor contract and the much-needed financial solutions it contains for union members.Let's all hope it does, for the good of our region and nation.Mabrie Jackson is president and CEO of the North Texas Commission. www.ntc-dfw.orgHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
