New Chrysler contract rejected by largest Kokomo UAW local.

[Jack Bone]

Source: News Channel 18 - Lafayette, Ind

KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) - Members of the largest of 3 United Auto Workers locals in Kokomo overwhelmingly rejected a tentative contract with Chrysler tonight. Union officials say about 3,000 of the 5,000 members of Local 685 participated in the vote, and 72% voted against the contract.

Seven local unions representing more than 16,000 workers have now turned down the landmark pact, while five locals representing about 8,200 workers have approved it. It's nearly impossible to keep a running total because most local union officials give out only percentages and not the number of people who voted.
<snip>

UAW workers haven't rejected a national contract since Chrysler employees did in 1982.

Opponents mainly object to a lower-tier wage scale for many new hires of around $14 per hour. If the contract is voted down, the UAW could return to the bargaining table or call for a revote.




Read more: http://www.wlfi.com/Global/story.asp?S=7255876&nav=menu591_3

[monktonman]

1. Shouldnt chrysler workers get the same deal as GM workers?

I never understood why the UAW negotiates that way.
Start with GM, get a deal and then go to chrysler and ford.
When the other companies get the GM ratified contract, they see that deal as a starting point to pick away at and go down from there. By the time the last in line gets the deal, there aint much deal to it.
Isnt the UAW the UNITED auto workers?
Every worker should get the same contract regardless of the company they work for IMO.

[Jack Bone]

3. The different companies have different priorities..

That's the best way that I can explain it. This contract GM desperately needed to lose much of it's liability concerning their retiree's health care benefits. Chrysler on the other doesn't have that many retirees to worry about, they're more interested in cutting back on costs for active workers. hence, the two tiered wage and no guarantees of work throughout the contract.

I agree w/ you in principle...but it doesn't work like that. They do try to carry over proposals from company to company. The 1st automaker to the table usually sets the precedent for that round of talks, in this case GM. The others after, then "tweak" it to their liking, or dislikes.

[monktonman]

4. Tweak I guess.

I understand that one contract may not work for the others. Fine.
Theres got to be another way. Seems to me that the next in line just looks
at the previous as a starting point to pick away at.
Kinda like how the buzzards who show up after the lion is done.

[Jack Bone]

2. Here's more from USA Today

Chrysler contract rejected by Kokomo, Ind., UAW local

By Tom Murphy, AP Business Writer
KOKOMO, Ind. — Members of the largest of three United Auto Workers locals in Kokomo overwhelmingly rejected a tentative contract with Chrysler on Tuesday night. About 3,000 of the 5,000 members of Local 685 participated in the vote, and 72% voted against the contract, union officials said.
Seven local unions representing more than 16,000 workers have now turned down the landmark pact, while five locals representing about 8,200 workers have approved it. It's nearly impossible to keep a running total because most local union officials give out only percentages and not the number of people who voted.

Yet with a large chunk of the 45,000 workers covered by the contract still voting, UAW leaders in Detroit have started a heavy lobbying campaign for passage. Four more large locals in suburban Detroit are scheduled to vote on Wednesday.

In Kokomo, UAW members packed the Local 685 hall Tuesday to listen to leaders from Detroit explain the contract before the vote.

Several members said later they thought it would be rejected.

"People don't turn out like this to vote 'yes,"' said Paula Vaughn as she nodded toward a full parking lot.

Her husband, Greg, who retired in April, said a lot of union members had questions about job security.

"That's what most people are worried about — where's their job going to be not four years down the road but 10 or 15 years down the road," Greg Vaughn said.<snip>

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-10-23-uaw-vote_N.htm

[Jack Bone]

5. And this from our local rag...

http://www.ktonline.com/local/local_story_296222947.html

NEW: Kokomo Locals say no to contract

By MEGHAN DURBAK
Tribune staff writer

Kokomo union members overwhelmingly rejected a tentative contract with Chrysler.

United Auto Workers Local 685 shot down Chrysler LLC’s proposal with a 2,269-881 vote. At Local 1166, the no vote was 586-165.

A large percentage of Kokomo’s 6,000 Chrysler workers turned out for the vote.

“I think it sends a strong message to International to go back to the bargaining table and reach a better agreement,” said Local 685 Union Official Chris Steward.

Chrysler and the International UAW reached the tentative agreement after a six-hour strike Oct. 10.

Primary reasons for the rejection center around Chrysler’s proposed two-tier wage, lack of job security and ambiguous language surrounding core and non-core jobs.

The fate of the contract is uncertain as rejections have come in from Kokomo, as well as Fenton, Mo., Twinsburg, Ohio, and Newark, Del.

Seven local unions representing more than 16,000 workers have now turned down the landmark pact, while five locals representing about 8,200 workers have approved it. It’s nearly impossible to keep a running total because most local union officials give out only percentages and not the number of people who voted.

Yet with a large chunk of the 45,000 workers covered by the contract still voting, UAW leaders in Detroit have started a heavy lobbying campaign for passage. Four more large locals in suburban Detroit are scheduled to vote today.<snip>