Six UAW locals (so far) reject contract with Chrysler

And then there were six: the UAW's tentative contract with Chrysler has been turned down by six UAW locals so far. The latest is the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, which follows nay votes by workers in Fenton, MO, Newark, DE, and Twinsburg, OH, among other places. The count so far is 11,000 against, 6,500 for.

UAW brass has been working to get the contract approved, even though the UAW's chief Chrysler negotiator is against the contract. The plant in Fenton voted against the contract even though that plant makes the Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, and has, relatively speaking, a secure future.

In total, 45,000 UAW workers will be voting on the contract, and it needs a simple majority to be ratified. If the UAW can't convince another 16,001 workers to go for it, then it'll return to the table with Chrysler. It's the first time such a thing would have happened since 1982 -- ironically, with Chrysler workers that time, as well.

[Source: Detroit News]