UAW’s Strike Deadline At Chrysler is Today, Local UAW President Calls GM Deal Giant Step Backwards - 10/10/07
9th October 2007
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Loading ...By Doug Cunningham
The UAW has set an 11 a.m. strike deadline today (Wednesday) for Chrysler. It doesn’t necessarily mean a strike will happen at that time, but it could if contract talks aren’t progressing enough. Today is also the day that UAW GM workers wrap up their voting on ratification of the new contract with GM.
UAW Local 909 President Al Benchich says the GM contract paying UAW new hires half of current wages is a giant step backwards. And he says its disastrous for UAW organizing drives at foreign-owned U.S. plants.
[Benchich1]: “Fourteen dollars an hour, fourteen-fifty an hour. I made those wages back in 1987, so as far as I'm concerned we're stepping back to the '80's in terms of the wages. It's gonna destroy our organizing drive at the transplants. I mean Toyota and Honda will show their members that, lookit, GM workers - the UAW negotiated fourteen dollar an hour jobs. You guys are making in the 20's. Do you really want the UAW to represent you?"