Fiat Chrysler U.S. labor deal meets opposition in early voting

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Reuters

BY BERNIE WOODALL

A proposed four-year labor agreement between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and the United Auto Workers union encountered strong opposition from rank-and-file union members in early ratification voting.

Final results of voting at 37 U.S. UAW local union halls aren't expected until the middle of next week, and the contract could still win enough support from Fiat Chrysler's 40,000 UAW-represented workers to go into effect. But the pact, which would narrow but not close a pay gap between veteran workers and new hires, has run into trouble at some large Fiat Chrysler plants.

Some 77 percent of production workers voted "no" at a large UAW local in Kokomo, Indiana that has more than 5,000 workers, the Detroit Free Press reported on Saturday. Representatives of the union local could not be reached for comment.

On Thursday, a 2,000-member UAW local for a stamping plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan rejected the contract, according to postings on Facebook, and 80 percent of production workers at a 1,300-member union local for a Trenton, Michigan engine plant rejected the proposed deal, the local's website said.

FULL story at link.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/26/us-autos-uaw-idUSKCN0RQ0NK20150926

[Skeeter Barnes]

1. Two tiered wage structure needs to be done away with. I hope they are ready to strike.

That is probably what it will take. Imagine what morale is like in a plant where you have 45% of the workforce doing the same job for significantly less money. How many of these lower paid workers do you think are women or other minorities?

Any employer that tried to do that to me would get less work out of me in return. Any old timer making top rate and voting "yes" on this contract ought to have his ass kicked.