Machinists Union members working at UTC Fuel Cells in South Windsor, CT voted overwhelmingly to accept a new three-year agreement with management. With 95% of the hourly workers in attendance at the contract ratification meeting, IAM members voted to accept by a margin of 127 to 21. Highlights of the new agreement include:

• Wage increases of 3% this year, 3% in 2004 and 2.5% in 2005, while retaining a semi-annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). 

• A $500 bonus.
   

• Pension increases of $2.00 per month per year of service, effective January 1, 2004, making the maximum $5 per month per year of service. The company also maintains a Special Retirement Option, an enhanced retirement option offered in areas about to experience a layoff.  Added is a Voluntary Separation Program, to be offered to workers who may opt to leave the company voluntarily in exchange for 1 week pay for each year of service, a $5,000 bonus and 6 months paid insurance.
   

• New contract language which allows them to move with their work if it is relocated in Connecticut, including to another UTC operation represented by the IAM. 
   

• An agreement by management to hear presentations from the IAM's High Performance Work Organization (HPWO) Department about that management-labor partnership program, and to discuss the feasibility of such a partnership at Fuel Cells.
  
  
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