OREANDA-NEWS. July 02, 2015. The members of GE’s two largest unions have voted to approve new four-year national labor contracts with GE. Union officials informed GE that voting by members of the IUE-CWA and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) was completed today, and that the national agreements have been ratified.

GE Vice President Greg Capito said, "This ‘yes’ vote is good news for GE, the unions, our employees and ultimately, our customers. We are gratified that our represented employees have solidly backed this contract that provides an excellent GE job package, while helping the company to continue to succeed.”

Union leaders and GE reached tentative agreements on the labor contracts on June 21st after three weeks of negotiations. The unions' bargaining committees and Conference Boards then endorsed the contracts, and the contracts were thereafter approved by membership votes in IUE-CWA and UE locals.

Approximately 16,500 union-represented employees are covered by the approved contracts. The IUE-CWA represents about 9,300 GE employees and its labor agreement covers numerous GE locations including Louisville, KY (GE Appliances); Lynn, MA (GE Aviation); and Schenectady, NY (GE Power & Water). The UE represents about 3,480 employees and its labor agreement includes Erie, PA (GE Transportation) as its largest facility.

Terms of the new contracts have been offered to the UAW, IAM, IBEW and other unions that have local contracts with GE. Agreements have been ratified by many of these local units to date.