IAM seeks to enjoin Pratt closures

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed a friend of court brief in supporting a Machinists' union effort to enjoin Pratt and Whitney from moving Connecticut operations to Georgia and Asia. In a Section 301 action, the union claims the company's promise to make a serious effort to keep the work in Connecticut, a promise contained in the current labor agreement, was violated. Moreover, the union contends, the Company never intended to keep the promise. The union's breach od contract action seeks to delay the plant closures for the remainder of the existing contract, at which point they hope to be in a position to bargain for a deal to prevent closure. Trial begins today.