Delauro Praises Reauthorization Of Children's Health Insurance Program: Legislation Was Signed Into Law One Year Ago Today

Statement

Delauro Praises Reauthorization Of Children's Health Insurance Program
Legislation Was Signed Into Law One Year Ago Today

Congressman Joe Courtney joined the members and leadership of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) today in East Hartford today to applaud the U.S. District Court's order sustaining the employees' lawsuit that asserted Pratt and Whitney violated its labor agreement with IAM when it decided to close the Cheshire and East Hartford CARO plants last July, which would impact nearly 1,000 jobs across the state.

The court upheld the employees' lawsuit claiming that Pratt and Whitney announced that it would send the jobs to Georgia and other overseas locations without proper consultation with labor leaders, as prescribed by the bargaining agreement agreed to by the union and the company.

"I applaud Judge Janet Hall's decision to uphold the labor contract agreed to by the employees and Pratt and Whitney. A deal is a deal."

"The employees of the Cheshire and East Hartford plants are the types of highly-skilled labor that the State of Connecticut cannot afford to lose. I thank Governor Rell, IAM officials Jim Parent and Wayne McCarthy, and the union members for making tremendous concessions to save the plants since July."

"Rather than finding reasons to move work out of the state, now is the time for all parties to come together to fight to keep jobs here in Connecticut. One thing this debate has clearly shown is that leaders at all levels are willing to work together to defend and protect Connecticut jobs."

"It is my hope that Pratt and Whitney understands this message as they evaluate their next steps."

Source