2024 Labor Contract Updates
The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) collective bargaining agreement with Sandia National Laboratories expires Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. The agreement covers about 500 of Sandia’s more than 16,700 employees. Negotiations for a new contract are scheduled to begin Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024.
Please refer to this website for any significant updates on the contract negotiation process.
Negotiation Goals
- Sandia’s goals are to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement that is fair to OPEIU members and supports Sandia’s national security mission.
- Sandia is committed to carrying out its national security mission and to continue meeting customer needs.
- Sandia believes the place for the discussion of the contract is at the negotiating table.
All content is for informational purposes only. Federal labor law prohibits NTESS from bargaining directly with employees. We will only negotiate with union officials.
Ongoing Updates
Sept. 19, 2024 – 8:32 a.m.
Sandia is pleased that Office and Professional Employees International Union members have ratified a new contract that is fair to employees and enables the Labs to continue meeting its important national security mission. The new three-year agreement is effective through Sept. 21, 2027.
Sandia appreciates the hard work by both teams over the past several weeks. Working together, we will continue to carry out our important national security mission.
Sept. 12, 2024 – 7:25 p.m.
After five weeks of good-faith bargaining, Sandia and OPEIU negotiators have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract. The agreement is both fair and competitive, supporting Sandia’s national security mission. The OPEIU bargaining committee and their alternates have agreed to recommend that OPEIU members vote to ratify the agreement.
OPEIU-hosted information sessions will be held on Monday and Tuesday next week. Voting will open for 24 hours starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18. Sandia encourages union members to vote to ensure their voices are heard. Union members can send questions to local251president@gmail.com.
Sandia has proposed ratification bonuses to be paid if the union notifies Sandia of a ratified contract by the updated time of 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19.
We respect the union’s right to present other terms of the agreement to their members. We will post the results of the ratification vote upon notification.
Sept. 11, 2024 – 7:22 p.m.
Sandia and OPEIU negotiators traded proposals throughout the day and evening, making significant strides. The teams will meet again tomorrow morning.
Sept. 10, 2024 – 5:40 p.m.
Discussions continued today between Sandia and OPEIU negotiators, with the groups reaching an additional tentative agreement for a total of 29 out of 44. Negotiators will continue bargaining tomorrow.
Sept. 9, 2024 – 9:20 p.m.
Today, Sandia proposed an updated comprehensive package to OPEIU representatives, including higher wages, the same benefits as nonrepresented employees such as increased vacation accrual and floating holidays, and a higher ratification bonus if Sandia is notified of ratification by 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13. The groups negotiated well into the evening. Bargaining will resume tomorrow.
Sept. 5, 2024 – 8:40 p.m.
Sandia negotiators proposed a comprehensive package of proposals and counterproposals covering all remaining contract articles, including wages, benefits, and time off. The OPEIU came back with a counterproposal, and discussion will continue next week. The union offered to negotiate this weekend, but Sandia representatives respectfully declined. This was so all Sandia employees can prepare for and enjoy Sandia’s Family Day with their families this weekend. The teams met three times today and reached tentative agreement on four additional contract articles. They plan to resume bargaining on Monday, Sept. 9.
Sept. 4, 2024 – 6:33 p.m.
Sandia and OPEIU negotiators met four times today, continuing to discuss wages and benefits. While they made some progress, significant work remains. They reached tentative agreements on three contract articles, including one that would extend the same Lifestyle Spending Account and Sandia Childcare Fund benefits to OPEIU-represented employees as those received by nonrepresented employees. Bargaining will resume tomorrow.
Aug. 29, 2024 – 5:20 p.m.
The third week of negotiations closed today with Sandia and OPEIU representatives meeting three times and reaching tentative agreement on one additional contract article. This brings the total to 21 out of 44. Bargaining will resume Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Aug. 28, 2024 – 5:43 p.m.
Discussions continued between Sandia and OPEIU negotiators at the bargaining table today. The group exchanged proposals and counterproposals and reached a tentative agreement on one contract article. Sandia offered a comprehensive wage and benefits package and a ratification bonus. The group will continue bargaining tomorrow.
Aug. 27, 2024 – 6:39 p.m.
Negotiators for Sandia and OPEIU met twice today and exchanged proposals on wages, benefits and other items. The group reached one tentative agreement. Sandia and OPEIU will meet again tomorrow at 9 a.m.
Aug. 22, 2024 – 4:46 p.m.
Sandia and OPEIU representatives reached tentative agreement on four contract articles today, bringing the total to 18 out of 44. Over the course of the second week, the group passed proposals back and forth on multiple issues, including benefits. Bargaining will resume Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Aug. 21, 2024 – 6:09 p.m.
Sandia and OPEIU met twice today and continued to have good discussions about benefits. No tentative agreements were reached today. The groups plan to resume bargaining at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
Aug. 20, 2024 – 5:17 p.m.
Contract negotiations continued today. Sandia and OPEIU representatives met twice at the bargaining table, discussing several proposals and counterproposals. Bargaining will resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
August 15, 2024 – 4:56 p.m.
It was a productive first week of negotiations. Sandia and OPEIU representatives exchanged several proposals and counterproposals and reached tentative agreement on a total of 14 contract articles. The groups discussed various items throughout the week, including benefits. Bargaining will resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20.
August 14, 2024 – 4:58 p.m.
Sandia and the OPEIU continued contract negotiations today. The groups met twice at the bargaining table, exchanging several proposals and counterproposals. They reached tentative agreement on two contract articles today and began discussing benefits. Bargaining will resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
August 13, 2024 – 5:26 p.m.
Sandia and the OPEIU began contract negotiations today. The groups met four times at the bargaining table, exchanging several proposals and reaching tentative agreement on 10 contract articles. Today’s discussions set a positive tone for productive talks moving forward. The groups have agreed to bargain Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and will meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.