Canadian auto union agrees to GM, Chrysler deals

By Rob Gillies

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Canadian Auto Workers union tentatively agreed today to labor deals with General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC that would replace contracts expiring in September.

CAW President Buzz Hargrove said the deals keep the automakers labor costs essentially the same as they are now. The union reached a similar deal with Ford Motor Co. last month, the union said.

Hargrove said the agreements prevent the two-tier wage system now used in the U.S., in which new hires are paid about half the hourly wages of older employees. The deals also freeze wages.

The CAW also received a commitment from GM on investments to produce new vehicles at a plant in Oshawa, Ontario, a key demand.

The Chrysler agreement reflected many of the basics already included in the other deals.

GM and Chrysler declined to comment on the agreements until the ratification process is done.

Hargrove said the membership will vote on the new GM deal on Friday and the new Chrysler deal on Saturday.

“This is a good agreement. It protects as many jobs as we could,” Hargrove said. “This truly is a win-win in a difficult time.”

The contracts cover about 22,000 GM and Chrysler workers.

Industry analysts have said Ford settled early to avoid a strike at its Oakville, Ontario, factory, which makes the strong-selling Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossover vehicles that are important to Ford’s cash flow.

Ken Lewenza, head of CAW’s Chrysler bargaining team, called negotiations tough.

“We’re not dealing with companies that have a lot of cash here. We’re dealing with companies that are in market decline,” Lewenza said.

GM recently announced the closure of a plant in Windsor, Ontario, and 1,400 lost jobs in addition to 900 job losses at a plant in Oshawa.