Proposed deal averts strike between FCA and UAW

Thu, Oct 8 2015

With the deadline rapidly approaching for a strike, FCA US and the United Auto Workers were able to hammer out a potential agreement late last night to avoid picket lines, at least for now. While the UAW said in a statement that it "secured significant gains," the actual contents of the deal haven't been published yet. Before going public, the offer still needs the consent of the UAW National Chrysler Committee, and that body has a meeting on 11:00 AM Eastern on Friday, October 9, to make a decision.

If the Chrysler committee signs off on the deal, it would then go to the union's 40,000 FCA US workers for a vote, according to The Detroit News. "We have made real gains and I look forward to a full discussion of the terms with our membership," President Dennis Williams said in the UAW's statement.

FCA US isn't providing any answers about the proposed contract either. In a release about the negotiations, the automaker said: "FCA US confirms that it has reached a new tentative agreement with the UAW. Because the agreement is subject to UAW member ratification, the Company cannot discuss the specifics of the agreement pending a vote by UAW members."

The original tentative contract with FCA US promised raises and the creation of a healthcare co-op. However, 65 percent of union members rejected the deal, The Detroit News reports. Workers didn't like that the offer kept a two-tier wage system between veterans and more recent employees. The details of the health plan also weren't explained well, and there wasn't much info on possible production changes.

UAW-FCA NATIONAL BARGAINING COMMITTEE VOTES ON PROPOSED TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
Featured / News / October 8, 2015

UAW National Chrysler Council Leaders to Convene for Vote on Friday, Oct. 9
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Terms to be announced following Friday vote

Detroit, Mich. Â– After a lengthy bargaining process, the UAW FCA National Bargaining Committee has secured significant gains in a proposed Tentative Agreement with FCA US announced today.

The bargaining committee unanimously voted to send the proposed Tentative Agreement to local union leaders who make up the union's UAW National Chrysler Council. The UAW Chrysler Council will meet in Detroit at 11 am on Friday to discuss and vote on the agreement.

"We heard from our members, and went back to FCA to strengthen their contract," said UAW President Dennis Williams. "We've reached a proposed Tentative Agreement that I believe addresses our members' principal concerns about their jobs and their futures. We have made real gains and I look forward to a full discussion of the terms with our membership."

Until the UAW National Chrysler Council votes to approve the deal, it is classified as a proposed Tentative Agreement. The contract language becomes a Tentative Agreement if the Council votes to approve it as such. Providing the Council approves, the UAW will release details of the Tentative Agreement to its membership and the ratification process will begin. A vote of the UAW FCA membership will decide whether or not the deal is finalized.

If the UAW Chrysler Council adopts the Tentative Agreement Friday, the union plans to make the details of the agreement available immediately.

By Chris Bruce