Filed under: GM, UAW/Unions
First plant rejects UAW-GM contract
UPDATE: The Detroit News is reporting workers at the Romulus, MI engine plant have also rejected the UAW-GM contract by a narrow margin.
The Detroit Free Press is reporting that workers at GM Powertrain's Massena, New York engine plant are the first to have rejected the proposed four-year labor contract agreed upon by UAW officials and General Motors. The members of UAW Local 465 chose to shoot it down by a margin of 172 to 137. They have good reason, though. According to the contract, the plant in which they work is scheduled to close in 2008. We're actually surprised 137 voted for the contract at all considering the document seals their fate.
UAW workers under GM's employ have until October 10th, another five days, to approve the contract, though only 13,000 out of 73,454 employees have voted so far. The rejection by the engine plant in Massena is not surprising, though we expect the contract will still be approved by a majority of the UAW rank and file. After that, the UAW moves on to negotiations with Ford and Chrysler, both of which are in a weaker position than crosstown rival GM and able to offer the UAW less.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
The Detroit Free Press is reporting that workers at GM Powertrain's Massena, New York engine plant are the first to have rejected the proposed four-year labor contract agreed upon by UAW officials and General Motors. The members of UAW Local 465 chose to shoot it down by a margin of 172 to 137. They have good reason, though. According to the contract, the plant in which they work is scheduled to close in 2008. We're actually surprised 137 voted for the contract at all considering the document seals their fate.
UAW workers under GM's employ have until October 10th, another five days, to approve the contract, though only 13,000 out of 73,454 employees have voted so far. The rejection by the engine plant in Massena is not surprising, though we expect the contract will still be approved by a majority of the UAW rank and file. After that, the UAW moves on to negotiations with Ford and Chrysler, both of which are in a weaker position than crosstown rival GM and able to offer the UAW less.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sean Flanagan 10:51AM (10/05/2007)
I understand voting down the agreement in a plant that will be shuttered, but the Romulus plant was guaranteed work in the agreement. Talk about shotting yourself in the foot. Now I'm not so sure who is worse: the union or the workers it represents.
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Mort 11:22AM (10/07/2007)
Yes, we would have shot ourselves in the foot we were guaranteed work, but since we were not told this we would not know that now would we. And according to our local paper, Romulus is slated to be sold or is on the cutting block, and why would we want to keep losing inside jobs and/or getting laid off or pushed to retire due to cost while Mgt. still getting bonuses and promotions. Not sure where you work but until you are in the plant,
you need to look at the entire picture. How can we compete with other countries in wages when our standard of living are 2-300% higher than these countries. We will never be able to compete. OH....let me rephrase that, if we keep letting corporations go outside the country due to cheaper wages, we will be able to compete due to the fact that now only have we lost our American jobs, we would loose the middle class, but hopefully you will too since you agree so much with what the auto industry is trying to do. If we lose our jobs, see how fast our economy will decline (you think it's bad now)
We only see what the "highligts" of the new contract, maybe you should go into solders of solidarity (SOS) and see the entirety of the contract, that includs the "Lowlights"
Pat Davis 10:58AM (10/05/2007)
Of subject here, but I noticed USNews & World Report launched a new auto site this morning: RankingsAndReviews.com. It seems they have a unique angle with rankings and meta-reviews, but the question is whether there's room for another car site. Any thoughts?
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MoonRover 11:19AM (10/05/2007)
The US News and world report site is not worth the time. I have never been a fan of their mag and after a visit to the auto site, it is a knock off of MSN auto news, both have their heads up Toyota's butt. Maybe it will go under, it names the new CTS # 9 in a field of 14 midsize upscale cars, dumb as a sack of hammers.
compy386 11:00AM (10/05/2007)
The workers are much worse. The union at least sees the writing on the wall. The workers are just being suicidal at this point.
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Steve C 11:45AM (10/05/2007)
I'd guess the votes are along age lines. The younger workers can grasp the problem and realize if they don't vote for it, they have no future. The older workers are still in denial.
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Dave 12:04PM (10/05/2007)
Sounds like 137 members are planning to retire or to relocate to another plant.
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bill 1:31PM (10/05/2007)
So who needs UAW officials getting paid gazziillions of dollars to negotiate contracts if individual plants can reject the deals? I am confused. Where do I go to become a Union Official?
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Sean Flanagan 3:26PM (10/05/2007)
One of the circles of Hell, I imagine. Oh, you mean where to go to become a union official, not where you if you already are. My bad.
bill 3:39PM (10/05/2007)
Sean, Sean, I am just kidding! I don't want to become a union official, and that is official.
David Thompson 10:18PM (10/06/2007)
Naah, that's just how the actual voting is implemented. It's like voting for SCA president by homeroom.
Rob 12:53AM (10/06/2007)
GM has planned on closing this plant for a loooong time. Massena, or anywhere in St Lawrence county, is a really crappy place to live. Top story on the local news would have John Friot reporting on a shovel stolen from a shed.
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010111 9:03AM (10/07/2007)
the Remans do most of the work anyway...
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