2025 Update to MBW Agreement Ratified per Membership Vote 1/27/2026

Brothers and Sisters,   

On January 27, 2026, the membership voted to ratify the update to the MBW agreement.

The update consists of 3 parts: 

•  Update in start wage rates to the following classifications: Welder, Green Welder, AAEM, Power Plant Repair, HVAC, Plumbers, Electricians, Power Plant Engineer, and RCs 

•  An updated path to R-19 positions that reflects the relevant skills and experience gained from holding R-17 Punch Press or EDM 

•  A change in the bargaining schedule from the beginning of the year to the end. 

After no consensus could be reached regarding an update to the structure of MBW, the Union shifted its focus to updating start rates and rate increase across the Plant. Ultimately, the classifications highlighted above were the ones where agreement could be reached regarding a starting wage rate update only. That means that new hires and members with less than a year of seniority in those classifications will be the only ones that see an immediate change in pay. The rest of the members in progression in these classifications will see an update only after the next MBW step redistribution process takes place. Unfortunately, the next time the step redistribution takes place is to be determined as the Union and the Company are in active debate over this.     

Presently, unless you've graduated from the GE CNC school or have outside machining experience, the only way for someone with no on the job machining experience to gain minimum qualifications for R-19 machining positions internally was lateraling or upgrading to R-17 Punch Press or R-17 EDM, which after 90 days would give you upgrading rights to R-19 Milling Machine. With this update, you will now meet minimum qualifications for Lathe as well as Mill after successfully holding R-17 Punch Press or R-17 EDM.    

The last portion of the TA deals with the timeframe of bargaining. As expected, the timeframe of MBW and National bargaining lining up complicated things for both the Union and the Company so bringing the next MBW bargaining period to the other side of national bargaining like we did this time is expected to benefit the process in the future.

Below is a copy of the agreement: