November 14, 2007
The UAW announced Wednesday morning that its members have voted to ratify a new labor agreement with Ford Motor Co.
The union said 79% of UAW members voted in favor of the contract.
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gOur bargaining team negotiated a contract that protects wages, benefits and seniority for our active members and provides income and health care security for our retired members,h UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement announcing the ratification.
The Ford deal brings ratification of labor agreements at all three Detroit automakers to a close, after four months of difficult negotiations, two short strikes and hard-fought battles over ratification.
The new labor contracts have been called transformational, with the union agreeing to allow the automakers to hire new workers at a lower wage and with lesser benefits and agreeing to establish a retiree health-care trust, known as a VEBA, that frees the automakers of their retiree health-care obligations by 2010.
In exchange, the union says it was able to win job-security promises for existing members and protect retiree health benefits against the risk of an automaker bankruptcy.
gWe stood our ground in the face of some rather big asks by the company and came away with a creative agreement that addresses the concerns of our members, and also gives the company the opportunity to move forward,h Gettelfinger said in his statement. gNow itfs up to Ford to successfully bring to market the top-quality vehicles our members are building in UAW Ford factories.h
Contact KATIE MERX at 313-222-8762 or kmerx@freepress.com.
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