Honeywell Employees End Two-Week Strike

About 2,500 Honeywell employees ended a two-week-old strike, approving a new contract by only eight votes.

Teamster members approved the four-year contract Sunday by a margin of 1,024 to 1,016, and workers returned to their shifts later in the night.

Jim Holte, president of the union local, said the strike by production and maintenance workers was over even though a challenge was expected.

Michael Bonsignore, Honeywell chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement that the company’s priority now is “to put this strike behind us as soon as possible.”

Workers at seven plants went on strike Feb. 1 after rejecting a contract that would have given new workers lower health and pension benefits than present employees.

The modified contract removed the two-tier medical plan for new hires, and the union agreed to drop its demands for higher wages and benefits, the company said.

The Minneapolis-based company, which produces aviation instruments and residential thermostats, had sales of more than $8 billion in 1997.