Lockheed Martin union avoids strike

Union workers at Lockheed Martin Corp.'s massive plant in suburban Atlanta have averted a strike by ratifying a three-year contract that was proposed by the aircraft manufacturing company.

The company said no new changes were made to the contract when union workers at its plant in Marietta agreed to the terms late Sunday night.

The Marietta Daily Journal reports Union leaders had asked about 3,500 employees represented by Local 709 of the International Association of Machinists to reject what the company called its last and best proposal for the contract.

Workers at the plant struck over contracts in 2002 and 2005 but voted to ratify a three-year deal in March 2008, ending a strike threat that year.

The Bethesda, Md.-based firm manufactures fighter jets and other military hardware.