Mopar Workers Frown, Vote Down UAW Contract
Detroit parts and axle operations workers Wednesday voted against a four-year contract proposed by the United Auto Workers and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the Detroit News reported.
About 700 Local 1248 workers in Warren, Michigan, turned down the proposal and said Wednesday that the contract created a third, unfair pay tier for Mopar workers that would cap their wages at a lower rate than Tier 1 and Tier 2 workers at FCA.
Under the proposed contract, veteran Tier 1 workers could receive pay raises up to $30 an hour, and newer, Tier 2 workers’ pay could go up to $25 an hour. Parts and axle operations workers pay would top out at $22 and $22.35 per hour, respectively.
Union President Dennis Williams said the “third tier” claims were inaccurate; those workers would have a path to apply for higher paying jobs.
“They’re not stuck. They’re not dead-end,” Williams told the Detroit News. “A tier system is when you don’t have a path. That is a tier system.”
Mopar employees were eligible for the $3,000 ratification bonus. The contract would cover more than 40,000 workers at FCA. Critics say the contract doesn’t raise wages high enough, and that the tier system wasn’t effectively eliminated.
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this face will be appearing in my 3rd level REM sleep tonight, so um thanks for that.
The UAW has a leadership problem; wonder if the rank and file realize it.
Does anyone know what the job requirements typically are for people looking into the entry level, or "third tier", jobs are? Do they require a college/technical degree? if they don't require a degree, these wages seem more than fair. Heck, post-2009, these wages sound fair even with a degree!
They're making about 2x what warehouse folks make at Amazon, etc. plus a pretty decent bennies package. Just another reason why OEM service parts are priced dearly.