UAW Local 1166, which represents the plant’s workers, has posted notices telling workers that a “strike deadline” has been set for 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. The letter did not specify the agreement(s).
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“The ratification vote was voted down overwhelmingly, so they can’t just go negotiate a new contract because they’re going to be accused by the membership of just reshuffling the same stuff”, he said.
According to the Detroit Free Press, as of Tuesday, the UAW’s negotiating team has been pulled from the bargaining table.
A message was left Tuesday seeking comment from a UAW spokesman.
Overseas automakers such at Toyota (TM), Honda (HMC) and Nissan (NSANY) pay the workers at their nonunion US plants less than the veteran workers at UAW plants earn. You, our members need to make decisions based on what’s best for you and your families.
UAW president Dennis Williams said in an open message to workers on the union website: “We met with the UAW-FCA local union leadership at great length and are fighting to address your issues taking everything into consideration with all the challenges”.
Do workers get strike pay?
Dziczek and McAlinden both predicted that if a contract agreement is not reached by late Wednesday night, a localized or U.S.-wide strike of Fiat Chrysler operations would last at least a week or two.
The strike would be the first in the industry since 2007, affecting about 40,000 workers.
A strike could come about in more than one way. The major criticisms included the continuation of a two tier wage structure, lack of a cap on the number of tier 2 workers and concerns over movement of production to other plants or out of the country.
The 7,500-worker plant makes the F-150 pickup, Ford’s most popular model, and the Transit commercial van.
Many local Fiat Chrysler unions have held meetings with members to explain strike procedures and have pushed for them to save money in case of a strike. At this point, workers are on strike notice, but the UAW global executive board has not authorized workers to take strike action.
“Chrysler is not in great financial shape, no matter what the UAW members may think”, he said.
The union and the automaker have been “talking”, an FCA spokeswoman said Monday. “It puts too much pain on both sides”, Dziczek said. Union Vice President Jimmy Settles had previously given the company a five-day strike notice.
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Those companies have been working under indefinite contract extensions since the union’s contract covering a few 140,000 members expired September 14.
