Lockheed Martin in the context of the F/A-22 Raptor & C-130J. - Here's to hoping for some good news before Tuesday that avoids any walkout.

I conclude a 2-1-05 post entitled "Iraq isn't the only war going on. Proposed cuts for the Georgia made F/A-22 Raptor & C-130J face battle in D.C. from Georgia delegation," with the following prediction:

"The F/A-22 is a likely survivor because the Air Force considers it a top priority. And cutting the C-130 at this particular time is going to be a tough sell because of the strain to the military-transport system in Iraq. Bottom line: on this hardware, Georgia jobs avoid a hit."

Obviously, when I was writing about Georgia jobs avoiding a hit, I was not talking about nor predicting the outcome of the current labor negotiations at Lockheed Martin in Cobb County.

The news we learned Saturday that the International Association of Machinists that represents the 2,800 workers who build F/A-22 Raptor fighters and C-130J transports will strike this coming Tuesday is not good. It could not come at a worse time for everyone and everything involved.

My prediction -- I am looking for a number of scabs Tuesday morning.

While many of the union members vividly remember that it was only a couple of years ago when this local had a strike that gained them virtually nothing, this is not why some will cross the picket line. Rather it is because of where the company -- and this includes the company's workers -- finds itself with respect to the proposed Pentagon cuts that affect these jobs.

Here's to hoping for some sort of resolution on the tenative new contract endorsed by union leaders before tomorrow so as to avoid any work stoppage.

(See 3-6-05 ajc and 3-2-05 ajc.)