Aerospace Manufacturing
UAW Workers Go on Strike at Lockheed Martin
More than 900 workers in Orlando and Denver are walking picket lines, citing unfair labor practices and inadequate wages.
BETHESDA, MD—Members of the United Auto Workers union (UAW) have gone on strike at Lockheed Martin assembly plants in Denver and Orlando, FL, and after negotiations over a new labor agreement were rejected.
The union alleges unfair labor practices by Lockheed Martin, as well as disagreements over starting salary, pay scale and raises, and recognizing Veterans Day as a company holiday. Lockheed Martin claims its best-and-final offer to the union was rejected by its members.
The walkout, involving members of UAW Local 788 in Orlando and Local 766 in Denver, follows months of negotiations between the union and Lockheed Martin.
The union claims the company’s latest contract offer includes a slow wage progression schedule, low starting wages, and the exclusion of Veterans Day as a paid holiday.
According to union representatives, more than 80 percent of Lockheed’s hourly workforce under the proposed contract would remain in a wage progression that could take 16 to 23 years to reach top pay in most job classifications. The offer also includes a starting wage of $15 per hour, which union leaders argue is insufficient given the company’s financial performance and federal funding.
According to its latest financial report, Lockheed Martin reported $1.7 billion in profits during the first quarter of 2025 and nearly $24 billion over the last three years. The union is using those figures to argue for higher wages amid other benefits.Looking for quick answers on assembly and manufacturing topics? Try Ask ASM, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ASM
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