Rockwell Collins, custodial union agree to grievance remedy, avoiding strike

Rockwell Collins has agreed to terms with its custodian union after the labor group voted to authorize a strike.

The move comes just as United Technologies Corp. is expected to close on its acquisition of the avionics company.

According to a statement issued by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1362 last week:

• All members who were put on layoff status, moved to other positions in the union or retired in lieu of being laid off can return to their original jobs Oct. 15.

• Non-union custodians can continue to be hired until next April. At that point, all custodians must be members of the union.

• Union members will get remedies for lost or reduced wages due to the outsourcing

'Rockwell Collins and IBEW 1362 leaders have worked diligently together to reach a mutually beneficial agreement regarding the union grievance and subsequent arbitration ruling associated with outsourcing 62 custodian jobs in Cedar Rapids,' Rockwell spokeswoman Pam Tvrdy-Cleary said in an email.

'The agreement includes offering to reinstate individuals who request and qualify for these positions on October 15, 2018, posting requisitions that are not filled through reinstatement, and providing back pay to affected individuals. Both sides are pleased to have resolved this matter.'

The union chapter voted to authorize a strike in mid-August this year, a month after an arbitrator upheld its grievance claim that Rockwell had violated its collective bargaining agreement in outsourcing custodial work at its Cedar Rapids facilities.

Rockwell said at the time that the outsourcing was necessary to reduce costs in a competitive business environment, and that it acted within the bounds of the agreement.

Officials from United Technologies have said as late as last week in an Securities and Exchange Commission filing that they expect to complete acquisition of Rockwell by the end of this quarter, which will be Sept. 30.

Officials at IBEW Local 1362 were not available for comment.

l Comments: (319) 398-8366; dan.mika@thegazette.com