NUMMI workers in Fremont (Toyota) overwhelmingly approve shutdown agreement

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_14695389

By George Avalos, STAFF WRITER
Posted: 03/18/2010 06:39:44 AM PDT
Updated: 03/18/2010 09:28:05 AM PDT

NUMMI workers have overwhelmingly approved a shutdown agreement that gives an average severance package of $54,000 to union members and makes the Fremont auto factory's closure within weeks a certainty.

The approval of the deal came Wednesday night, according to two top officials with the United Auto Workers Local 2244. The UAW unit represents 3,700 union workers at the 4,700-employee vehicle plant.


United Auto Workers Local 2244 Bargaining Chairman Javier Contreras, left, and President Sergio Santos announce at a press conference that members of the auto workers union will most likely vote to accept a severance pay package offered by Toyota, from the union headquarters in Fremont, Calif., on Wednesday March 17, 2010. Toyota is closing its New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. auto assembly plant in Fremont.(Anda Chu/Staff)


"The tentative agreement has been ratified," Javier Contreras, chairman of the UAW bargaining committee, said in a text message.

The plant is scheduled to be closed by April 1. The New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. factory is a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Corp.

About 90 percent of the UAW members approved the severance package, while 10 percent rejected it, Sergio Santos, president of UAW Local 2244, said in a text message.

Despite the approval, some employees blasted a deal provision that provides only $21,175 of that amount for 300 employees who are on disability leave.

FULL story at link.