Lockheed Martin Urges IAM Employees to Vote in Favor of New Contract

/PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has urged employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to vote in favor of a new three-year contract Sunday.

Company and union negotiators failed to reach tentative agreements in three separate sets of contract negotiations that concluded March 3 in Point Clear, Ala. The proposed agreements would cover the nearly 6,000 IAM represented employees at Marietta, Ga.; Palmdale and Sunnyvale, Calif.; and several field locations.

"We are disappointed that the union bargaining committees rejected what we feel is an industry leading offer that would provide substantial wage and benefit improvements over the life of the contract and maintain Lockheed Martin's ability to deliver affordable solutions to our customers in an increasingly challenging budget environment," said Greg Karol, corporate vice president of labor relations. "This is a fair and equitable offer and we strongly encourage the union membership to review the proposed agreement and vote in favor of ratifying the new contract."

The Company's Best and Final Offer includes a competitive wage package that provides guaranteed pay increases over the next three years through a combination of three general wage increases totaling 8.5 percent over three years, a $2,500 ratification bonus and continuation of the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) formula and supplements.

Current employees to retain industry-leading pension with substantial increase:

Current represented employees, hired before March 6, 2011, will maintain their defined benefit pension plan with an increase of $11 to $88 per-month, per-year of service, representing a 14% increase in their pension. Current employees will also continue to accrue service under this plan as they have under prior agreements.

Employees hired on or after March 7, 2011, receive new retirement plan:

New hires and rehires as of March 7, 2011 will be able to save for retirement with a new plan: the Hourly Capital Accumulation Plan (HCAP) with a guaranteed quarterly company contribution of $350 for their retirement. Employees eligible for HCAP are immediately vested in the plan, which has multiple investment options and is portable if employees leave the Company.

Lockheed Martin must remain competitive in increasingly challenging marketplace:

The transition to an Hourly Capital Accumulation Plan for new hires is an important step Lockheed Martin is taking to remain competitive in our industry. The vast majority of companies, including many of Lockheed Martin's competitors, do not offer defined benefit pension plans. The Corporation is taking action to position itself for the future with similar changes for newly hired and rehired employees while maintaining and improving the defined benefit pension for current employees.

Represented employees urged to exercise right to vote on new contract:

The proposals now go to the union memberships for consideration and are scheduled for votes on Sunday, March 6, 2011. Employees are urged to carefully review this information to have a full understanding of the facts of this offer before voting on Sunday.

"Lockheed Martin has had a long-standing partnership with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers," Karol said. "We value all the success we've had together and will continue working to strengthen that relationship while ensuring Lockheed Martin remains competitive. That means more jobs well into the future. We urge all IAM employees covered under these agreements to exercise their rights to vote on Sunday."

Find information about the proposed agreement at www.lockheedmartin.com/negotiations.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 132,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

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Siemens Awarded $466 Million Locomotive Contract by Amtrak

/PRNewswire/ -- Siemens today announced that it has been awarded a $466 million contract to build 70 electric locomotives for Amtrak's Northeast and Keystone Corridor lines as part of Amtrak's landmark fleet rejuvenation initiative. The contract will require an additional 250 people to build the locomotives, with 200 in Sacramento, Calif. and 50 collectively in Norwood, Ohio and Alpharetta, Ga.

The locomotives will be built at Siemens' existing light rail manufacturing facility in Sacramento, Calif. The plant, which has been in operation for 26 years, is powered up to 80 percent by two megawatts of solar energy and employs 750 people. All main components of the new locomotive will be produced in Siemens plants in the United States – including the motors in Alpharetta and propulsion containers in Norcross, Ga. The first locomotives will be delivered in 2013.

"As the global leader in rail innovation, we are thrilled that Amtrak has selected our proven locomotive technology and that this project will create 250 new green manufacturing jobs in the United States," said Daryl Dulaney, president and CEO, Siemens Industry, Inc. "These locomotives will be built in America using renewable energy and provide cleaner, more efficient movement of people on the most heavily traveled rail route in the country."

"Amtrak is a critical transportation provider in the Northeast and modern locomotives are essential to meet the service reliability expectations of our passengers and for us to handle the growing ridership demand in the coming years," said President and CEO Joseph Boardman.

Siemens is already a successful producer of American light rail trains with every third light rail vehicle in the United States being a Siemens train. The new Amtrak Cities Sprinter (ACS64) is based on Siemens latest iteration of the proven EuroSprinter electric locomotive. Over 1,600 units are in operation worldwide, and this latest version will be customized to meet the strenuous environment of the Northeast Corridor at a sustained speed of 125 mph.

"This isn't your grandfather's locomotive. Not only will we use renewable energy to build them, the locomotives will also include energy efficient features, such as regenerative braking that can feed up to 100 percent of the energy generated during braking back to the power grid," said Oliver Hauck, president of the Mobility Division of Siemens Industry, Inc.

The current locomotive platform has been designed for improved safety, reliability and maintainability. The Amtrak-specific design also meets the latest Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements for front end strength, incorporating a crumple zone for collision with large objects in addition to an enhanced safety cage and anti-climber functionality.

This equipment purchase is part of Amtrak's multi-year Fleet Strategy Plan to replace its entire fleet of passenger rail cars and locomotives over the next 30 years. Amtrak is the largest passenger rail operator on the North American continent and the only operator of a high-speed line.

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US Airways Pilots Request Mediation of Stalled Contract Negotiations

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, applied today (November 13) to the National Mediation Board (NMB) to request mediation of the currently single contract negotiations for all US Airways pilots. US Airways pilots work under two separate contracts, covering the pre-merger US Airways and former America West pilot groups.

The US Airways pilots entered contract negotiations with management in November 2005 under the terms of a Transition Agreement at the time of the US Airways and America West merger. In April, USAPA requested an NMB facilitator to assist the parties in reaching an agreement, but that proposal was rejected by US Airways.

“Our pilots have been laboring under substandard bankruptcy and ATSB-era contracts for years prior to the start of these negotiations, which have gone nowhere,” said Captain Mike Cleary, president of USAPA. “After four fruitless years, we have determined that the current negotiations are hopelessly stalled. As we predicted in April, US Airways’ rejection of an NMB facilitator amounted to nothing more than a delay tactic, and we questioned then management’s sincerity in desiring to reach any agreement. Sure enough, seven months down the road, the US Airways pilots are hardly a step closer to an industry-standard contract.”

“Industry-standard pilot wages and working conditions will allow our company to compete on equal ground with other airlines,” President Cleary continued. “US Airways pilots have tired of the rhetoric and welcome the opportunity to negotiate under the auspices of NMB Mediation and the Railway Labor Act, where impasse allows us to persuade our company to do the right thing.”

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) represents more than 5,000 US Airways pilots in seven domiciles across the United States.

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Lockheed Martin Awarded Customs and Border Protection P-3 Orion Fleet Maintenance Contract

/PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has been awarded an $821 million maintenance, repair, and overhaul contract for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) P-3 Orion fleet. The contract is for a base period of one year, with nine additional one-year options. CBP currently operates 16 P-3s, updated with a suite of modern surveillance sensors oriented towards conducting homeland security missions.

"We are extremely proud to support Customs and Border Protection's homeland security missions, and honored by the trust and confidence that CBP has placed with Lockheed Martin to maintain this critical capability," said Ray Burick, Lockheed Martin vice president of P-3 programs. "The Customs P-3s have a mission that is unique within the P-3 community. It is our privilege to lend our efforts to support that mission."

Work on the contract will be performed at multiple facilities. The operational portion - aircraft launch and recovery, daily maintenance, short-term phase maintenance, and minor modifications - will be performed by Lockheed Martin personnel at CBP operational sites. Depot maintenance will be performed primarily at Lockheed Martin's Greenville, S.C., facility.

"The Customs and Border Protection program is a great example of the benefits of effective government/industry partnerships," said Rob Weiss, Lockheed Martin executive vice president for Global Sustainment. "Our priority is to provide all of our customers with integrated life-cycle solutions that ensure operational effectiveness and readiness at best value."

In April 2008, CBP contracted with Lockheed Martin under the P-3 Aircraft Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP), ordering up to 14 all-new production wing life extension kits. To date, CBP has placed firm orders for six life extension kits. ASLEP is the only P-3 life extension program validated by the OEM to extend P-3 service life 20-25 years, equating to 15,000 additional flight hours. A total of 47 ASLEP kits have been ordered from five P-3 operators which include Norway, CBP, the U.S. Navy, Canada and Taiwan.

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World Airways Extends Contract With Allied Air for MD-11 Freighter Service

/PRNewswire/ -- World Airways has extended a contract with Allied Air to operate one MD-11F on a full-time basis for service through December 2011 between Ostend, Belgium and Lagos, Nigeria, continuing on to Nairobi, Kenya, and returning to Ostend. World Airways, a subsidiary of Global Aviation Holdings, Inc., began operating the aircraft for Allied Air in October 2008.

Allied Air is a Nigerian-based airline that operates four Boeing 727 freighters and works closely in conjunction with its worldwide sales agent, ANA Aviation Services, to provide scheduled flights and ad hoc charter services.

"ANA Aviation Services is a specialist airline management provider that designs and delivers innovative airline solutions to customers around the globe," said Jeff Sanborn, chief marketing officer for Global Aviation Holdings, Inc. "World Airways is pleased to continue to meet the needs of Allied Air and its business partner, ANA Aviation Services, with our wide-body cargo fleet."

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Jacobs Receives Joint Equipment Assessment Program (JEAP) Contract From the U.S. Marine Corps

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) announced today that it received a contract to provide Joint Equipment Assessment Program (JEAP) support to the Department of Defense and the United States Marine Corps. Work will be performed primarily in Albany, Ga. and at several other locations in the U.S. and worldwide.

Awarded under the General Services Administration (GSA) with one base year and four option years, this contract has a potential value of $89 million through April 2013. Jacobs has been the prime contractor for JEAP support services to the Marine Corps since 2004.

Under this contract, Jacobs will support Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Defense (CBRND) equipment assessment and calibration; individual and collective protection; collection, assessment, storage, and disposal of excess CBRND Individual Protective Equipment; worldwide storage and issue facilities for the Marine Corps Consolidated Storage Program (CSP); and technical and program management support throughout the U.S. and abroad. Additionally, the contract encompasses logistics support activities for the Marine Corps Logistics Command Project Office for the Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle system.

In making the announcement, Jacobs President and CEO Craig Martin stated, "We are always pleased and honored to have the opportunity to support the men and women of our military -- in this case, ensuring they have the resources they need to accomplish their missions. This contract enables us to continue this important relationship with our Marine Corps customer."

Jacobs, with over 57,000 employees and revenues exceeding $11.0 billion, provides technical, professional, and construction services globally.

Any statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based on management's current estimates and expectations, and currently available competitive, financial, and economic data, forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. We, therefore, caution the reader that there are a variety of factors that could cause business conditions and results to differ materially from what is contained in our forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors which may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements please refer to our 2007 Form 10-K, and in particular the discussions contained under Items 1 - Business, 1A - Risk Factors, 3 - Legal Proceedings, and 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We also caution the readers of this release that we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

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Lockheed Martin Receives $156 Million Contract to Extend Canadian CP-140 Aurora Aircraft Service Life

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) has received a $156 million contract to provide the P-3 Aircraft Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP) for the Canadian Forces' CP-140 aircraft fleet.

Under this contract, 10 Canadian CP-140 Aurora aircraft will receive Life Extension Kits consisting of all-new outer wings, center wing lower surface assemblies, horizontal stabilizers, wing and horizontal stabilizer leading edges, and various items to be installed on a conditional basis. Lockheed Martin Life Extension Kits will provide, on average, an additional 20-25 years of service life for the world's Orion and Aurora fleets and will greatly reduce maintenance costs over the aircraft's service life.

"Lockheed Martin Life Extension Kits will give the Canadian Forces an additional 15,000 flight hours of service life from their Auroras," said Ray Burick, Lockheed Martin vice president of P-3/S-3 programs. "The ASLEP solution leverages the knowledge and experience of Lockheed Martin as the original equipment manufacturer to support the P-3 and CP-140 aircraft."

Canada becomes the fourth customer under the Lockheed Martin P-3 ASLEP program. Other customers for the Life Extension Kits are the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The U.S. Navy is under contract for 13 sets of new outer wings. A proposal for the Taiwan P-3 fleet is also in work.

"Lockheed Martin's ASLEP solution is the most cost-effective, lowest risk choice for long-term P-3 or CP-140 sustainment," said Burick. "As the P-3 original equipment manufacturer, Lockheed Martin is uniquely qualified to sustain and support the world's P-3 fleets."

Lockheed Martin is a major supplier of logistics systems and lifetime support and performance-based logistics services to military and civil government customers. The corporation provides solutions for platform maintenance, modifications and repair, material readiness and distribution, and global supply chain command and control.

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Lockheed Martin Receives Contract for Four C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft for Qatar

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The State of Qatar has signed a $393.6 million contract with Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) for the purchase of four C-130J Super Hercules airlifters plus training and spares with deliveries to begin in 2011. Qatar's new C-130Js will be the longer fuselage or "stretched" variant of the C-130J.

Since this is Qatar's first experience with C-130s, the package being provided by Lockheed Martin is a complete solution. The package includes four aircraft, training of aircrew and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, forklifts, loading vehicles, cargo pallets, and a team of technical specialists who will be based in Qatar during an initial support period.

"This acquisition of a fleet of C-130Js will provide our country with a highly flexible airlift capability," said Brigadier General Ahmad Ibrahim Al -- Malki, Chairman of the Qatar Emiri Air Force Airlift Evaluation Committee. "No other aircraft can do what a C-130J can do and we are proud to join the many, many countries around the world that operate the world's most successful airlifter."

"We also are extremely proud to be selected to provide the world's most advanced tactical mobility aircraft to meet Qatar's operational airlift needs," said Jim Jamerson, president, Middle East/Africa Region, Lockheed Martin Corporation. "The C-130J Super Hercules will equip the Qatari Emiri Air Force with proven, modern, and effective tactical and strategic airlift to support a wide range of Qatar's national requirements."

Qatar joins the rapidly growing number of nations with C-130J fleets including Australia, Canada, Demark, India, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The C-130J has become the standard by which all other airlift is measured in terms of availability, flexibility and reliability. C-130Js are currently deployed in two combat theaters and are operating at a very high tempo efficiently and reliably. In non-combat, but equally harsh environments, the C-130Js were first to support relief efforts after hurricane Katrina, Thailand's tsunami, Myanmar's typhoon and several earthquakes. The worldwide fleet of C-130Js has now flown nearly half a million flight hours, with some C-130J operator countries flying as much as 1000 hours per month.

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