| The United American Workers union reported that the | | | | Before it reached complete approval, the contract met |
| contract with Chrysler LLC had been finally ratified by | | | | many objections regarding its provisions for the union. |
| their group. | | | | Many UAW members are not satisfied with the |
| "We are pleased that our UAW employees recognize | | | | second-tier wage for the new employees rating to $14 |
| that the new agreement meets the needs of the | | | | per hour or half the regular employee earns. According |
| company and its employees by providing a framework | | | | to contract dissidents, this low wage is a step towards |
| to improve our long-term manufacturing | | | | a continuing depreciation of labor cost in the United |
| competitiveness,'' Tom LaSorda, Chrysler's vice | | | | States. |
| chairman and president, said in a statement released | | | | After rejections made by workers in two Chrysler |
| after the union announced the contract had been | | | | plants in St. Louis, Mo., the UAW chief, Ron Gettelfinger |
| approved. | | | | and his national council exerted more efforts for the |
| To finish the Detroit three, the union must also | | | | contract campaign. The rebuffing made by the two |
| negotiate with Ford Motor Co. (its Volvo division makes | | | | assembly plants was due to limited commitments |
| top of the line Volvo water pump) and the union | | | | made by Chrysler to its plants as a response to Job |
| expects that their negotiations with Ford begin this | | | | security issues. |
| week. | | | | "There's no question this was a difficult set of |
| As recorded by the union, 56 percent of their | | | | negotiations during difficult times for the U.S. auto |
| production workers and 51 percent of the skilled | | | | industry," said UAW Vice President General Holifield, |
| workers voted for the tentative agreement's approval. | | | | who heads the union's Chrysler Department. "But with |
| Support had also been given by the 94 percent of the | | | | the support of our membership and local leadership, |
| clerical workers and 19 percent of the workers at | | | | we have an agreement that secures jobs and wages |
| Chrysler's engineering department. | | | | and protects healthcare and pension benefits," Holifield |
| "Our members had to face some tough choices, and | | | | said. |
| we had a solid, democratic debate about this contract," | | | | The contract was made last October 10 after a brief |
| UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said. "Now we're | | | | strike launched by the union against now Cerberus |
| going to come together as a union - and now it's on | | | | owned Chrysler LLC. It was the same day the UAW |
| the company to move ahead, increase their market | | | | completely ratified their deal with the biggest target, |
| share and continue to build great cars and trucks here | | | | General Motors. |
| in the U.S." | | | | |