HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Members of the two largest labor unions representing General Electric Co. employees have ratified new contracts affecting more than 20,000 workers nationwide, the company announced Friday.
The newly approved deals replace contracts that expired June 17. They include a 16 percent pay increase over four years and better health care benefits, while limiting the increase of health care costs borne by workers.
The Fairfield-based industrial conglomerate reached the tentative agreements this month with its two largest employee unions: the International Union of Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers-Communications Workers of America and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America.
The IUE-CWA and its locals represent about 10,030 GE employees, and the UE represents about 4,050 workers.
Terms of the new contracts will be extended to nine other unions with local contracts with GE. The contracts cover more than 20,000 employees nationwide.