New Contract for Troop Supply Makers at Fosta Tek (2/10/10)

Wage and bonus increases highlight a new Contract for RWDSU Local 60 members at Fosta Tek in Leominster, Massachusetts, where workers ratified a new 3.5 year agreement on February 9. Members at the plant, which produces special lenses for use in goods like fire fighter helmets and gas masks being used by US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, will also see their health insurance benefits protected without change and a new training policy that improves job bidding and pay possibilities.

“Protecting health care benefits is always a top priority, and we were successful,” said New England Joint Board Representative Melvin Drungo. "We were also able to negotiate solid raises and benefit improvements."

Wages will increase 3 percent the first two years of the contract and 2.75 percent in the third year.  There will also be an increase in the quarterly productivity bonus, and an increase in the perfect attendance bonus.

A new training system is being implemented that will make it possible for members to move to better-paying jobs more easily. The company has agreed to train everyone in all job classifications during a set time period. In the past, cross training was done at management’s discretion. This means employees will have a wider range of options at work.

There are 115 RWDSU Local 60 members employed at Fosta Tek.