Christmas became merrier for more than 1,400 Alcoa Howmet <link _top>Castings United Auto Workers members, and the good cheer should be extended to the whole community.
UAW Local 1243 members overwhelmingly approved a labor contract extension providing an immediate $1,200 signing bonus.
Alcoa Howmet workers gathered at 7:30 a.m. for the surprisingly quick vote, approving the agreement.
The contract extension through 2013 pays out the bonus money Dec. 19, creating quite a local economic stimulus right before Christmas.
Overall, community leaders are pleased that the second-largest employer in Muskegon County has enough confidence in future business to lock into such a long contract. Alcoa Howmet is an advanced manufacturer of internal turbine engine parts for the aerospace industry.