The Nation - News from Dec. 2, 1985

Machinists at three of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft’s four plants called their first strike in 25 years after rejecting a three-year contract offer from the giant engine manufacturer. The members of three Hartford, Conn., area locals of the International Assn. of Machinists voted to begin their walkout at 12:01 a.m. today while a vote by workers at the fourth and largest plant, in East Hartford, fell short of the two-thirds majority required for a strike. The three plants facing a strike are in North Haven, Middletown and Southington and employ about 5,000 machinists.