TORONTO, May 17 /PRNewswire/ - Thousands of CAW members working
at Chrysler have voted in favour of a new collective agreement, ratifying the
deal by 87 per cent today. This wraps up the 2008 round of negotiations
between the CAW and the Big Three North American auto producers.
The approval rate at Chrysler was the highest amongst the three companies,
with General Motors workers voting 84 per cent in favour and Ford workers
voting 67 per cent in favour of the new contract.
CAW President Buzz Hargrove said that the strong approval rating by the
membership is further evidence that the union did the right thing in
negotiating an early settlement. "I have no doubt in my mind that going into
early bargaining with General Motors, Ford and Chrysler was the best thing for
our members," said Hargrove. "With the new product commitments contained in
the agreement, our members will be better equipped to weather the economic
storm currently devastating the auto industry."
The Chrysler agreement closely follows a pattern established at Ford two
weeks earlier and includes product commitments at the Brampton plant for the
launch of the new C-series vehicles in 2010 and confirms that the Windsor
plant will continue to be the lead producer of mini-vans in North America.
Chrysler also agreed to keep the Etobicoke Casting plant open until June 2011,
with the intention of selling the plant or making it into a joint venture.
Chrysler had threatened to close the plant.
Ken Lewenza, chair of the CAW-Chrysler master bargaining committee and
president of CAW Local 444, said that it was an excellent agreement that will
protect workers well into the future and ensure that Canada remains an choice
location for investment. He acknowledged the terrible impact job loss is
having on the city of Windsor and right across the country and connected the
job loss to a falling market share for all three auto companies, due to unfair
trade. "It's not about the worker, his or her benefits or wages, we cannot be
expected to compete with third world countries."
The agreement includes cost of living wage adjustments in the second and
third years of the agreement, benefit improvements and no two-tier wage
structure. The CAW represents approximately 8,000 workers at Chrysler.
The union reached historically early agreements with both General Motors
and Chrysler Thursday morning, more than four months before the contract
expiration.
The results by location are as follows:
CAW Local 1459, Etobicoke
Production: 83% in favour
Skilled Trades: 77% in favour
Combined total: 81% in favour
CAW Local 1285, Brampton
Production: 82% in favour
Skilled Trades: 91% in favour
Combined total: 84% in favour
Office: 92% in favour
CAW Local 444, Windsor
Production: 89% in favour
Skilled Trades: 90% in favour
Combined total: 89% in favour
CAW Local 1498
Office: 90% in favour
CAW Local 195
Security: 96% in favour
Total Production: 87% in favour
Total Skilled Trades: 89% in favour
Total Office: 89% in favour
Total Security: 96% in favour
Production and Trades combined total: 87% in favour.
Overall total: 87% in favour
SOURCE Canadian Auto Workers
please contact CAW Communications: Shannon Devine, (cell) (416) 302-1699 or
Angelo DiCaro, (cell) (416) 606-6311
