In a move that can only be characterized as slitting their own throats, 65% of UAW local members have voted against the proposed four-year labor agreement worked out by the International union and FCA.
In a statement issued after the final tally, FCA said, “The memories of our near-death experience in 2009 are vivid to this day in the minds of most of us at FCA. A large number of new employees have been brought into the Group since then who, thankfully, did not have to endure the pain and sacrifices that were required of the workforce then. But it is that knowledge and those memories that continuously reinforce the FCA leadership’s resolve to never let those events repeat.”
Such is not the thinking of the newer hires who want it all. Now. The agreement took significant steps toward maintaining US production and phasing out the two-tier wage system that the new hires hate raising their wages over the contract to $25.35 an hour. Total guaranteed increased compensation was up to $25,000 over the course of the four-year agreement.
UAW President Dennis Williams said, “We don’t consider this a setback; we consider the membership vote a part of the process we respect… We will be meeting with the UAW-FCA National bargaining committee and council to discuss the issues.”
All AutoInformed can say is – We hope union members at FCA can speak Spanish, and are prepared to move to Mexico and earn $3 an hour.
