UAW Local 405 Votes to Authorize Strike at Triumph Group Over Contract

UAW Local 405 Members at Triumph Group Approve Strike Authorization

Members of UAW Local 405 at Triumph Group, responsible for producing engine controls and other essential components for U.S. military aircraft, have overwhelmingly voted in favor of authorizing a strike. The vote concluded with a 99% approval (148-1, with an 86% turnout), allowing a strike to commence post the expiration of the current union contract, which ends at midnight on October 31. The union members are demanding sectoral standard wages, job security, cost-of-living protection, affordable healthcare, and more, citing that the company has not addressed these critical issues adequately during negotiations.

UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla commented on the situation, stating, “This vote should send a clear message to Triumph Group that UAW Local 405 members are not settling for their abysmal proposals. During the life of our last contract, Triumph Group made $680 million off the work of these members. Our members in West Hartford are no different than UAW aerospace workers across the country. Triumph can afford to do better, and this vote is a sign that they must put a better offer forward.”

Triumph Group reported $687 million in profits over the five-year term of the current union contract. The company's CEO received $31.7 million in compensation during this period, contributing to a total of $61.6 million paid over the last decade.

New employees at Triumph start at $25.25 per hour, while the average Triumph worker earns $39.34 per hour without a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to mitigate inflation. In contrast, UAW members at Rolls Royce and GE Aerospace earn higher hourly wages of $43.70 and $43.79 respectively, with cost-of-living protections in place.

UAW Local 405 President Benjamin Wilcox expressed concerns over the company's negotiation tactics, noting, “It was just hours before our strike vote that the company finally gave us an economic proposal – 8 days before our contract expiration. Frankly, the company is still not taking our membership seriously. Here’s hoping the results of this strike vote help convince them just how different we are doing things this year.”

Located in West Hartford, CT, UAW Local 405 represents 174 members at Triumph Group. These workers are engaged in highly skilled manufacturing, machining, assembly, and technical tasks that support the aerospace industry, contributing to the production, repair, and overhaul of vital U.S. military aircraft components and systems, all while ensuring top quality, safety, and reliability standards.