Rep. Courtney Applauds Wage Boost for Additional 3,700+ Metal Trade Workers and Carpenters at Electric Boat
Pay raise for metal trade workers and carpenters come in addition to record MDA-UAW tentative agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) applauded Electric Boat (EB), the Metal Trades Council (MTC), and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA), Local 1302 for reaching new agreements to boost wages for their members. The pay raise was made possible by the special funding Congress approved in December 2024 and builds on the historic labor contracts the unions and EB ratified in 2023.
“Ratifying this new agreement—which required the unions and Electric Boat to reopen the landmark contracts approved in 2023—is exactly what Congress intended when we provided funding to raise shipbuilders’ wages. Alongside the tentative MDA-UAW agreement that boosts members’ average take-home pay by more than 50% over five years, this deal marks real progress toward our shared goal: building and retaining a highly skilled workforce in southern New England to carry out Congress’ ambitious submarine production plans. Kudos to Peter Baker and the Metal Trades Council, Gerald Renaud and the UBCJA, and Shawn Coyne from Electric Boat Human Resources for swiftly working through the details of this important agreement,” said Courtney.
“The agreement that has been reached to improve wages and modify the wage structure is an acknowledgment of the vital role we play in our nation’s defense and our need to attract and retain the skilled workforce to provide the most sophisticated deterrent constructed in protection of our country,” said Peter Baker, president of the Metal Trades Council.
The agreements come in addition to the tentative MDA-UAW contract announced Sunday night, which makes record wage increases and reforms the wage structure. Electric Boat’s Vice President for HR said that the enhanced package was a direct result of the recently awarded $12.4 billion contract approved by Congress.
Rep. Courtney secured the authority in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act for the Secretary of the Navy to increase wages for non-executive shipyard workers. Congress passed this bipartisan measure in December 2024, and later that month, approved funding through the Continuing Resolution to allow the Navy to underwrite the cost of these wage increases for shipbuilders. In April, Rep. Courtney called on the Secretary of the Navy to quickly act upon his authority and deliver the wage increases Congress and the Navy agree are required. On April 30, the Navy acted on its new authority and awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $12.4 for the construction of two Virginia class boats, productivity improvements at shipyards, and workforce support at nuclear-powered vessel programs.
The Metal Trades Council, representing over 3,400 Electric Boat employees, ratified a five-year robust contract with EB in October 2023.
That same month, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters of America Local 1302, representing over 350 employees, ratified a new contract with EB featuring higher wages, more paid and sick leave, retention and ratification bonuses, and other improvements.