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F‑35 production workers represented by IAM District 776 begin contract talks with Lockheed Martin

IAM District 776, representing roughly 5,000 Lockheed Martin employees who build the F‑35 at Fort Worth, NAS Patuxent River and Edwards AFB, opened contract negotiations with Lockheed on March 26. The bargaining committee and international leadership delivered a demand for a contract "reflecting value."

Discovered 2026-03-26T13:30:26.515086-07:00 | 2026-03-26T13:30:26.515086-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

Negotiations could affect factory output and delivery timing as Lockheed ramps F‑35 final assembly in Fort Worth (see source:80861127-cdb4-4822-9c50-9ecf4abd3a22).
The talks occur amid a major procurement push that expands production demand, increasing the operational and cost stakes of any labor outcome (see source:ec576941-18bd-4d5d-9c25-dd9d0081a985).
Labor terms or disruptions would also intersect with ongoing program scrutiny over sustainment costs and software development, which bear directly on readiness and Pentagon oversight (see source:444b7392-70f2-41b1-bf42-3adf3d62d328 and source:8d1b97c2-6d38-4d25-b2e1-315bd5f857d3).

Reported By

19fortyfive.com Air Data News AeroTime Defense Daily Flying Magazine IAM Union