HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - General Electric Co. and its two largest labor unions reached tentative agreements Sunday on contracts affecting more than 20,000 employees nationwide, company and union leaders said.
The new four-year agreements replace contracts that were set to expire at midnight Sunday.
If ratified by union members June 28, terms of the new contracts also would be extended to nine other unions that have local contracts with GE.
Negotiations between GE and its unions have been viewed as a possible indicator for manufacturers nationwide, which are watching how the conglomerate handles ongoing issues such as pensions and rising health care costs.
No specifics about wage increases, pension plan changes, benefit plan updates or other details in the proposed agreements were released. However, union leaders said the contracts accelerate joint efforts to address health care issues, add Veterans Day as a holiday and include provisions to help workers with shorter service.
The IUE-CWA and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America are the largest unions representing GE workers.
Fairfield-based GE also has negotiated local contracts with the Machinists union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, auto workers, steel workers and other unions.