KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Lycoming Engines at 652 Oliver Street in Williamsport in 2018.

The union representing 370 skilled employees at Lycoming Engines, where piston aviation engines are made at a sprawling plant on Oliver Street, expressed hope that a tentative agreement will be reached in coming weeks.

“That is our hope,” said Lonnie Everett, Region 9 United Automobile Workers International representative Tuesday, who is speaking on behalf of the membership at Local 787 UAW. The plant employs 550 workers and the unionized employees have been working without a contract since July 29, company and union officials said.

Negotiations between the union and company began April 3, and workers were recently presented with the last, best and final offer for a five-year contract, which 96% of them voted down.

A strike with workers walking the picket lines is not what is desired, but rather, the members have allowed the UAW bargaining unit and International the full support to return an amicable tentative agreement.

The proposed contract was not adequate in terms of a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and health care costs were not guaranteed over the life of the five-year agreement, he said.

As for general wage increases, the union expressed discontent after the release of the company’s quarterly earnings showing investors’ gains.

Additionally, many of the union members were required to go to work through the COVID-19 pandemic while other employees — including some in management — were able to work remotely at home, Everett said.

Some non-economic items also were on the table, including training.

Overall, union members were kept up with the last, best and final offer details leading to the roll out of the terms a week prior to the vote. They were given the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered, Everett said.

“We are open, flexible and willing and doing our due diligence to reach a tentative agreement,” he said.