With an F/A-18 Hornet as a backdrop, seven members of Local 344 display settlement checks they received from naval contractor AECOM. Payments for unpaid overtime could total more than $750,000 and be split among as many as 500 members. L. to r., David Spencer, Jacob Furst, John Hoggatt, Leslie Dikes, Edward Bradway, Ralph Legler, and Walter Scheiderer.
Naval contractor altered time-keeping method and benefits
LOCAL 344 MEMBERS employed at the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake, Calif., recently began receiving checks from naval contractor AECOM as settlement in a dispute about timekeeping and overtime pay. The settlement could total over $750,000 and be split among 500 members, according to SFEAW Director Dave Lawrence, who services the lodge.
Lawrence said that when the Navy awarded AECOM a contract to maintain U.S. and foreign aircraft at the China Lake facility in January 2009, the company displayed an arrogant and antiunion demeanor.
“Every day was a battle,” he said. “AECOM reduced health benefits previously provided by its predecessor, which we believe violated the Service Contract Act. They also changed the long-established timekeeping method, which resulted in their failure to pay overtime when our members worked 44-hour weeks.”
The Department of Labor dismissed L-344’s complaint regarding reduced benefits. However, on Sept. 23 the lead DOL investigator advised the lodge that AECOM had requested a settlement of the overtime issue and agreed to reimburse employees for lost wages covering the 31-month period of the contract. (The Navy dismissed AECOM as the site contractor in August.)
“We tried diligently to break labor-management barriers with the contractor,” said Lawrence. “However, the company refused to move off its antiunion stance. I would like to thank all that were involved in this battle, with special thanks to International Vice President Tom Baca, Local 344 President John Sewell, and chief shop steward (now retired) Ralph Legler. The lodge deserves tremendous credit for standing up to the company and seeing this through.”
Chartered in 1996, L-344 is a forging, maintenance, manufacturing, and shop lodge headquartered in Ridgecrest, Calif.
