Machinists to vote Thursday

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Machinists will vote Thursday on a tentative agreement reached by Lockheed Martin and the union to end a nine-week strike at a fighter jet plant in Fort Worth and two other sites. About 3,600 workers went on strike in April over proposed changes in health benefits and a Lockheed plan to stop offering a traditional pension to newly hired workers. The plant in Fort Worth builds F-35s and F-16s. (Source: multiple, including Reuters, 06/25/12, New York Times, 06/24/12) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center.