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16 June, 1999The UAW has set job security and outsourcing as key issues for this year's simultaneous bargaining with the automakers.
USA: With the backdrop of a record U.S. sales year for cars and trucks, the 1999 round of national negotiations between the United Autoworkers (UAW) and the Big Three automakers began June 14 with an opening session at Ford. It was followed by DaimlerChrysler on June 15, and General Motors yesterday, June 16. The three-year national agreements, covering some 350,000 U.S. workers, expire on September 14.
The UAW's principal aim in these contract talks is job security. UAW President Steve Yokich declared that "we can negotiate the best wage and benefits package but it won't mean anything if we don't have the jobs."
These negotiations may be the most crucial in decades, because the union must contend with the manufacturers' use of modular assembly, which requires fewer workers to build more cars and increased contracting to outside suppliers. Also, there is a growing tendency for overtime work rather than hiring new workers to meet demands. Another probable cause for tensions in the negotiations will be over the auto companies need to do something about their ageing factories.
As a rule, once a contract is signed with one of the companies, the union asks for similar terms with the others. Ford signed the lead settlement in 1996.
The UAW's principal aim in these contract talks is job security. UAW President Steve Yokich declared that "we can negotiate the best wage and benefits package but it won't mean anything if we don't have the jobs."
These negotiations may be the most crucial in decades, because the union must contend with the manufacturers' use of modular assembly, which requires fewer workers to build more cars and increased contracting to outside suppliers. Also, there is a growing tendency for overtime work rather than hiring new workers to meet demands. Another probable cause for tensions in the negotiations will be over the auto companies need to do something about their ageing factories.
As a rule, once a contract is signed with one of the companies, the union asks for similar terms with the others. Ford signed the lead settlement in 1996.