UAW Local 892 resoundingly rejected proposed modifications to a tentative contract agreement reached last month between Ford Motor Co. and the UAW, according to a news alert distributed by the local.
Ford Motor Co. employees who work at an automotive parts plant in Saline voted 76% to 24% on Wednesday against the modifications of a 2007 contract, according to the e-mail. The Ford employees work at a plant operated by Automotive Components Holdings LLC, a Ford-managed holding company. Union officials did not return phone calls.
The modifications to a 2007 labor agreement are designed to help Ford remain competitive as General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC try to negotiate similar changes. GM and Chrysler LLC have received $17.4 billion in federal loans and must obtain concessions from the UAW under the terms of those loans while Ford is trying to survive without resorting to government loans.
The tentative agreement allows Ford to use stock instead of cash to cover some of its payments to a retiree trust fund, eliminates Fordís jobs bank program that paid laid-off workers most of their salary, suspends cost-of-living adjustments, performance bonuses in 2009 and 2010, and offers buyouts.
In recent days, members at UAW Local 900, in Wayne approved the contract along with UAW members at Fordís Sterling Axle plant, represented by Local 228.
Voting continues at locals around the country and is expected to be complete by March 9.
http://www.freep.com/article/20090305/BUSINESS01/90305061/UAW+local+rejects+Ford+proposal
