I wish the GM workers had balls like the people at Ford. Oh well. detnews.com
October 30, 2009
http://detnews.com/article/20091030/AUTO01/910300425Dearborn Truck rejects Ford-UAW deal
BRYCE G. HOFFMAN AND LOUIS AGUILAR
The Detroit News
Dearborn --A stunning 93 percent of workers at Ford Motor Co.'s Dearborn Truck Plant voted to reject a tentative agreement between the automaker and the United Auto Workers on Friday, according to union sources.
Workers at two Chicago-area complexes soundly rejected the pact Thursday, bringing the number to at least eight UAW locals that have rejected concessions. UAW Local 588 rejected the measure by a vote of 430-107, according to the local's Web site. Chicago Assembly workers at Local 551 voted no by a 70 percent margin.
Workers at Ford's parts plant in Saline also voted it down.
At least four UAW locals have endorsed the changes to the 2007 labor pact. A simple majority of Ford's 41,000 UAW-represented workers must approve the changes for the agreement to pass.
Voting also ends Friday at Ford's Romeo Engine Plant, Kentucky Truck and Louisville, Ky., Assembly.
At Dearborn's Local 600, in the shadow of the massive Rouge complex, there are many outspoken critics. The Rouge plant is the site of the 1937 Battle of the Overpass, in which UAW leaders, including Walter Reuther, were assaulted for trying to unionize Ford workers. This time it's UAW rank-and-file rallying against UAW leaders and Ford officials, who both have said the changes are necessary.
Nick Kottalis, president and chairman of UAW's unit for the Dearborn Truck Plant, has signed his named to a leaflet lambasting the modifications and urging members to vote no. "We are already competitive with GM and Chrysler and the Government doesn't run our company," the leaflet says.
Several Rouge workers voting early Friday said they voted no.
"I've been working here 40 years, and 29 times I've been asked to accept concessions and this time I can't do it," said John Melech, 57, who began working at the Rouge complex at age 17.
Like many Ford workers at various locals who said they voted no this week, Melech listed a number of concessions the workers have approved in recent years. He and others talked about pressure to get rid of veteran workers by reassigning them to more physically demanding work, limiting overtime and cutting break times. Melech, a skilled tradesman, said he was upset about merging skilled trades classifications.
"I hope it fails miserably," Melech said.
Rejection of the changes could jeopardize Ford's competitiveness, since the concessions would bring it closer in line with those of its domestic competitors. Ford lost more than $14.6 billion in 2008 and hasn't posted a yearly profit since 2005.
The changes are intended to bring the automaker to near-parity with GM and Chrysler, which won givebacks from the union during bankruptcy. Ford's deal includes a freeze on wages and benefits for new hires and changes in work rules that would give Ford greater flexibility in how it deploys workers in factories.
Wages for entry-level workers hired by GM and Chrysler are now frozen through 2011. If the union votes down the concessions, Ford would be required to pay higher wages. The deal also limits the union's right to strike in disputes over pay and benefit increases. If Ford tried to cut workers' pay or benefits, they would still be allowed to strike.
In addition, the tentative deal guarantees future work at Ford plants in the United States and gives workers a $1,000 bonus to reward their contributions toward improving vehicle quality.
Voting continues through the weekend.
