UAW Local 647 secures tentative agreement after two-week GE Aerospace strike

Cincinnati Workers Secure Tentative Agreement After Strike

CINCINNATI— In a remarkable turn of events, over 600 members of UAW Local 647 have emerged victorious after a two-week strike against GE Aerospace. The workers, from GE's facilities in Erlanger, KY, and Evendale, OH, demonstrated unwavering solidarity by maintaining their presence on the picket line around the clock.

UAW President Shawn Fain emphasized the power of unity by stating, "UAW Local 647 members showed that you don’t beat a multi-billion-dollar company by backing down—you win by standing up and joining together in a common cause."

The strike, which began on August 28, was driven by concerns over job security, rising health care costs, and insufficient time off. The tentative agreement addresses these issues, with GE agreeing to absorb nearly all health care premium increases and providing additional vacation time for workers. Furthermore, the deal includes enhanced job security measures for both Erlanger and Evendale facilities.

UAW Local 647 President Brian Strunk expressed pride in the union's persistence, saying, "Our members held strong and had the courage to fight for more. Our bargaining team delivered on our members’ main demands: strong job security, more time off the job to spend with families, and money to offset the health care cost increase."

The agreement spans a five-year term and awaits a ratification vote scheduled for Friday, September 19.

UAW Region 2B Director Dave Green remarked, “Companies need to respect the UAW. We’ve made a choice to do things differently as a union and our members at GE Aerospace are part of that."

Throughout the strike, workers remained informed through daily bargaining updates shared on the union's website and via text messages, helping to sustain morale and solidarity.

Don Luknis, a veteran UAW Local 647 member and strike captain at the Evendale facility, captured the sentiment of many when he said, “After 31 years at GE, I was tired of their corporate greed. I’m proud of our teamwork to keep each other going along the way. UAW Local 647 is a stronger union now than the day we walked out on strike against this corporate giant. One day longer, one day stronger!”

While Evendale workers are known for constructing marine and industrial engines for the U.S. Navy, those in Erlanger manage vital global distribution operations for GE. This marks the first UAW strike at GE since 1988.