Covid-19: Picket by workers hits GE Aviation facility in Massachusetts

A brief picket involving workers took place on 30 March at GE Aviation’s facility in Lynn, Massachusetts, where the company makes the T408 turboshaft engine that powers the US Marine Corps (USMC) Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion heavy lift helicopter.

Jerry Carney, IUE-CWA GE and aerospace conference board chairman, told Jane’s on 30 March that roughly 12 of the 1,230 union employees at this facility held a picket to call for a better company reaction to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Carney said that the picketers had called for better cleaning of the facility and clarification as to what would happen to employees if they were to come down with Covid-19 or become exposed to it. They also wanted a precise plan as to what would happen when Covid-19 does hit the facility.

The military designation assigned to the GE38 is T408. A brief labor picket took place on 30 March at the GE Aviation facility in Lynn, Massachusetts, that makes the T408. (General Electric)

Carney said the picketing employees are supporting “international’s” move to bring General Electric (GE) ventilator and other medical supply work into Lynn. Beth Allen, Communication Workers Association (CWA) communication director, told Jane’s on 30 March that the picketers are asking GE to retool and make ventilators in places where it has excess capacity instead of laying people off.

The picket only lasted an hour and had no intention of impacting production at the plant, Carney said. The union has not been contacted by the company. GE Aviation did not return a request for comment prior to publication.