Workers at Lockheed Martin who build the F-35 multi-role fighter have accepted a new five-year contract negotiated by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union).
On June 14, 2026, IAM Union District 776 in Fort Worth said over the weekend around 5,000 members voted to ratify a new contract that included changes to pay and retirement benefits.
The new Lockheed Martin contract goes into effect at midnight on June 15, 2026, and will remain in effect until June 15, 2031.
“The dedicated membership at Lockheed is the bedrock of the company’s success,” IAM International President Brian Bryant said. “Keeping with their mission-critical mantra, the members fought hard for a worthy contract, and they prevailed – the entire IAM is proud of their commitment.”
The new contract includes:
- General Wage Increases (GWI yearly increases of 6.0%, 4.5%, 4.5%, 4.0%, 4.0%)
- Improve/Maintain Quality of Life: No Mandatory Overtime and Increased Vacation
- Improvements to Retirement
- $6,000 Ratification Bonus and more
IAM Union District 776 said that negotiations had been ongoing since mid-March of this year, with the agreement also covering members at Edwards Air Force Base and Patuxent River.
“Our members made it clear what the purpose and goal for these negotiations were,” District 776 Directing Business Representative Doyle Huddleston said. “No takeaways and make improvements on the top issues. We did what our members asked us to do, and they made the decision with their votes.”
Lockheed Martin is the largest defense employer in the US, and the F-35 program supply chain directly supports over 254,000 jobs through over 1,800 suppliers across 48 states and Puerto Rico, according to IAM Union.