DETROIT—Heading into contract negotiations with the UAW, GM and Ford are considering asking to create a new tier of lower-paid union workers in their U.S. factories. This new pay rate for some lower-skilled jobs would help the car manufacturers lower labor costs as they compete with Asian and European rivals.
CLEVELAND, MS—Pro-union workers at Faurecia’s automotive seating assembly plant here are planning to march today to protest what they say are low wages and poor working conditions at the facility.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen has recognized a new group called the American Council of Employees (ACE) to represent workers at its assembly plant here, in addition to the United Auto Workers. ACE is an alternative to and has campaigned against the UAW, which a year ago lost an election to be the sole representative of workers at the plant.
LISLE, IL—Members of the UAW have ratified a four-year contract with truck maker Navistar International Corp. that will provide workers with a combination of wage increases and bonuses, while maintaining a two-tier wage scale for new hires and veteran employees.
DETROIT—A Ford Motor Co. executive said Friday that a “critical” goal for the company in this year’s contract negotiations with the UAW union is to “maintain a competitive environment.”
DETROIT—A federal judge in Michigan has dismissed a suit filed last summer by Ford Motor Co. hourly employees who alleged that the United Auto Workers had breached a duty of fair representation.
DETROIT—As new UAW President Dennis Williams heads into the 2015 contract talks, he plans to push hard for a wage increase for GM, Ford and Chrysler workers.
VANCE, AL—The National Labor Relations Board ruled that Mercedes-Benz U.S. International must rescind a rule in its employee handbook prohibiting workers from talking about a union in work areas while not on work time.
CHATTANOOGA, TN—The UAW expects Volkswagen to announce soon a policy change that would allow for union representation at the company’s assembly plant here, where the union has faced challenges organizing workers. Earlier this year, the UAW lost a vote to represent about 1,500 workers at the Chattanooga plant but the union still claims it has the support of a majority of the employees.