According to industry sources, union members of the Pascagoula Metal Trades Council (PMTC) have approved a new collective bargaining agreement with Ingalls Shipbuilding (IS), securing the largest pay rise in history for shipyard workers.
PMTC represents nearly 6,000 workers across nine of Ingalls Shipbuilding’s 13 unions. The vote passed with 1,832 votes in favor and 391 against.
The report states that Ingalls Shipbuilding’s latest collective bargaining agreement is for five years, requiring a uniform 18% pay rise for all shipyard employees. This is the largest single wage increase in the shipyard’s history, and the increase will continue annually until 2030. For high-demand jobs, an additional 10% increase is required on top of the 18% uniform pay rise, and benefits will be extended until March 8, 2031.
An Ingalls Shipbuilding representative stated, “Under the agreement, the basic wage for all shipbuilding workers represented by the PMTC and the Joint Special Police and Security Personnel Federation will be immediately increased by at least 18%. This historic agreement brings substantial wage growth, job security, and future certainty to shipbuilding workers and their families, while supporting the shipyard fulfill its mission.”
According to available information, Ingalls Shipbuilding is located in Mississippi and is part of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), a U.S. defense shipbuilding group. The shipyard designs, builds, and maintains amphibious assault ships, destroyers, and Coast Guard patrol vessels for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard.
As the largest supplier of surface combat ships to the U.S. Navy, Ingalls Shipbuilding is currently building four classes of ships simultaneously. Ingalls Shipbuilding employs more than 11,000 people.