The workers had rejected a company offer August 27, and the 2,700 members went on strike. Major issues in the dispute were job security, medical benefits, and pensions.

The initial contract offer increased workers' average cost of medical coverage by 111 percent. The new agreement increases it by 91 percent. Raytheon also agreed to raise pension payments from $34 per year of service to $40; previously they had offered $38 per year.

Raytheon, which has 10 plants in Massachusetts, also agreed to keep production of the Patriot and Hawk missiles, and two types of radar systems, in the state.

The new contract lasts four years. The previous contract was for two years and prior contracts were three years.

Commenting on what the strikers accomplished, Elizabeth Ortiz, with 19 years at Raytheon, said, "We stuck together. We are more unified." She noted that they learned during the strike, remarking that before "we didn't know how to strike and make noise." Referring to the contract, she said, "We got a little."

Ella Johnson, a 42-year veteran, was working at Raytheon in 1966 when the union last went on strike. She said in that strike, which lasted a couple of months, "We stood up, but we did not gain at the moment. We gained for the future. Today I think we are not gaining very much, but we are gaining for the future. Without the union we wouldn't gain anything then or today."

José Maldonado, a mechanical assembler at the Andover plant, with 25 years' service, reported, "We got big support. We couldn't have made it without that. We won because we stuck together."

"I think it was horrible for them to take the medical," explained Carrie Boylorn, who has 33 years with the company, but added, "I think the strike did help." Workers expressed concern about aspects of the new medical benefits, especially the prescription plan. Certain drugs will not be covered by the new plan and no list of which ones will be covered was available.

Oscar Peña, a 19-year veteran, voted against the contract, commenting, "We should have stayed out longer and gotten more." He said co-workers voted for the contract because the company threatened that if the union did not accept it they would not negotiate again until after Thanksgiving. He also thought the cutoff of medical coverage by the company, days after the five-week strike began, weighed heavily on many.

The new pact increases wages about 3.5 percent a year over the course of the contract. Before the meeting, a worker with 26 years at Raytheon noted that in 1981 he was making more money per hour than today, due to job eliminations, combinations, and wage freezes over the last two decades.

During the strike, pro-union rallies were held by retirees, by women union members, and by the Gay and Lesbian Labor Activist Network, which rallied to support a provision proposed by the union to guarantee benefits for all domestic partners.

Tim Lennox is a member of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees.  
 
 
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