IAM
Supports NASA Space-suit Decision
When Neil Armstrong stepped off
the lunar module in 1969 and became the first man to
walk on the moon, he was wearing a space-suit made
by IAM workers at Hamilton Standard in Windsor
Locks, CT. The company is now known as Hamilton
Sunstrand, a division of United Technologies (UTC).
Citing errors in the latest round of bidding for a
new space suit, NASA announced it is canceling a
$745 million contract that would have awarded the
contract to a new company and moved that work out of
Connecticut.
Following concerns raised by the IAM and the
Government Accountability Office, NASA now plans to
re-bid the contract next year.
“In a fair competition, IAM workers and companies
can deliver the best products in the world,” said
Eastern Territory GVP Lynn D. Tucker, Jr., who
credited the re-bid decision to lobbying efforts by
John Harrity, GrowJobs CT, District 26 DBR Everett
Corey, Local 743 President Mark Hebert and the staff
at District 26. “If UTC continues to partner with
the IAM, I am confident that together, we will
prevail in this fight.”
For more information on GrowJobs CT, visit the
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http://www.growjobsct.org/
