Lockheed Martin announced inside that they're bringing in a few dozen contractors. We have addressed this with Lockheed Martin and were informed these are temporary workers. Lockheed has the right under our weak labor laws to do this during the strike. These scabs, or "temporary replacement workers" in Lockheed-speak, aren't being paid any benefits or offered permanent employment.

It's surprising how Lockheed Martin demands to slash our health care and go after our pension plans to "save money for the customer", but they can waste all kinds of money during this strike. They are paying them over six dollars an hour MORE than our average wage plus health care and pension, which is sixteen percent more! Maybe an additional sixteen percent into our compensation package at the bargaining table would have made a difference and averted the strike.

So, is the government paying YOUR tax money to hire strikebreakers? Of course, we ARE concerned, but this tells us how strong our strike is, and how few people have crossed the line.

It's nearly comical how they can demand takeaways for loyal, long-term employees, but they've got millions to throw away.

We all know it's not reality as we know it takes months to train these folks before they touch an airplane. It's ludicrous to think otherwise. Lockheed will waste millions to hire unskilled and untrained workers to make a silly show that won't produce anything. They are paying for hotels, more money hourly than our total benefit package is worth, travel and per diem. Lockheed will likely rent vans with dark windows to drive them across the picket line.

No one can believe there is ANYONE already qualified to work on the F-35 that isn't already working for Lockheed Martin. It's the most unique aircraft in the world. Remember when we were moving people from the F-16 to the F-22 - workers with DECADES of experience - it was Lockheed that told us it would take months to train these experienced Lockheed employees for the new aircraft.

Additionally, it was Lockheed that wanted to build a "wall of seniority" around the F-35 program because of the extensive amount of time for the required training and cost associated with this unique aircraft. Was Lockheed lying to us then, or are they lying to you now?

The bottom line is Lockheed has tried everything they can to scare our membership. Trouble is, we know that our members are made of stronger stuff than that, and we don't scare over silly Lockheed Martin PR stunts.

We're upping the pressure on Lockheed Martin. Our strikers at PAX River had 200 to 300 people at Lockheed Martin Headquarters in Bethesda, MD this morning and we are now picketing building 500 and building 501.

It's obvious that our efforts have made a difference. Lockheed is hoping for a big influx of scabs to cross our picket line on Tuesday, and when it doesn't happen, it will solidify our position that they are going to have to set down and negotiate to end this strike. They won't break it!

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