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More than 70% of members voting at two Kokomo plants rejected the deal, according to union officials, joining workers from at least six other plants in voting against the agreement. Exact vote tallies have not been released; however, most watchers believe the overall vote count is split about 50-50 on approving the four-year contract.
The outcome could be more clear by tomorrow, as more than 9,000 Detroit-area workers go to the polls on Wednesday. UAW officials have been heavily lobbying the workers, according to a Detroit News report, sending e-mails and memos, visiting factories and bringing in retirees to help make their case. (The final major vote is scheduled for Oct. 26, when Belvidere, Ill.-based workers are scheduled to weigh in.) Still, opposition remains intense. Specifically, some workers are enraged by a concession that would establish a two-tiered wage and benefit system for future hires that came without the union winning firm guarantees for future North American vehicle production rates. The Detroit Free Press notes that one of the locations set to vote Wednesday is the Local led by Bill Parker, who according to the paper has been one of the most vocal opponents of the deal, leading many to believe that Wednesday’s vote could doom the contract. A rejection would be a blow to the credibility of UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, and would force union and Chrysler negotiators back to the negotiating table. But when that would happen remains unclear. Sources have told TheDeal.com that should the rejection margin be narrow the union might return to Chrysler immediately, hopeful for a small concession that would sway enough voters to back the contract. A union decision to instead open negotiations with Ford Motor Co., the only one of the Big Three without a negotiated deal, could indicate that leaders believe there is no simple solution and that talks could have to begin anew with Chrysler. The first round of talks produced a one-day strike at Chrysler before an agreement was reached. — Lou Whiteman
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A
rejection by rank and file members of a United Auto Workers-negotiated labor
deal with Chrysler LLC remained a strong possibility following a “no” vote
Tuesday by workers at two plants in Indiana.
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