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UAW Announces New Contract Ratified at Bell Helicopter Textron

13 June 2000

    DETROIT - UAW Vice President Ron Gettelfinger, who directs the union's 
Aerospace Department, announced today that members of UAW Local 218 have 
ratified a new three-year contract for workers at the Bell Helicopter Textron 
plant in Fort Worth, Texas.  The agreement was reached on June 10 and was 
ratified by a 90-percent margin on Sunday, June 11.  It covers approximately 
2,600 workers.

    Highlights of the new contract include 3-percent wage increases in each
year of the agreement as well as a $1,700 signing bonus.  All other benefits
are either maintained or improved.

    "This agreement demonstrates the value of a union contract in keeping our
members secure and prosperous in an economy that is changing all the time,"
said UAW President Stephen P. Yokich.

    "I commend UAW Regional Director Jim Wells and the Local 218 Bargaining
Committee for their hard and effective work in putting this contract together.
As evidenced by the substantial vote in favor of ratification, it is clear
that they did an outstanding job," added Vice President Gettelfinger.