Although most foreign automakers aren’t saddled with union commitments, Mitsubishi has ties with the UAW that dates back to the company’s tie-up with Chrysler in the 1980s. That connection means contract negotiations are inevitable and the Japanese automaker has begun the latest round of talks with the UAW.
Although Mitsubishi is just now sitting down at the negotiating table with the UAW, contract talks have actually been suspended for the last three years. UAW Local 2488 – which staffs Mitsubishi’s Normal, Illinois production plant — agreed to postpone contract talks in 2005 due to Mitsubishi’s sagging U.S. sales.
In 2006, the UAW agreed to extend the contract and accept a temporary $4 an hour wage cut, but the contract is now slated to expire one minute before midnight on August 28th, according to Automotive News.
The Norma plant – which opened its doors in 1988 through a 50-50 joint venture with Chrysler – produces the Galant, the Eclipse and the Endeavor SUV. The plant has the capacity to produce 240,000 vehicles annually, but is currently only churning out about 68,000 units per year.
Chrysler ended its partnership with Mitsubishi in 1991.
07/17, 4:37 PM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
misbubishi needs some big ideas.make some of your models more global.
eclipse is average but send it to europe and russia
revamp galant to a large 4dr coupe style.
bring colt minicar as a honda fit rival and colt CC to USA
+ the grandis as a mazda 5 competitor
focus on small engines and economy then repair tanished image with a 4wd coupe with 350 to 450bhp
give up on large 4×4 market in US. focus on outlander.
+ actually make use of the miev technology and get some model out soon.
this company has the potential to make a mazda style turnaround
07/17, 4:47 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
RIP MITSUBISHI
07/17, 4:50 PM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
if mitsu is to RIP there is alot more that have as much a chance in joining them
07/17, 4:51 PM
posted by:
ktulu
mitsu has no interesting vehicles
07/17, 5:00 PM
posted by:
Shismo
ibnonstopstrikes
07/17, 5:29 PM
posted by:
VictorRaikkonen
i agree kyulu… the only interesting cehicle in their line up is the evo and for that money i could buy a bmw, lexus, audi, etc.
07/17, 5:55 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
zzzzzzzzzzzz
07/17, 6:41 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Say what??!! Haven’t these guys been watching GM get bled dry by the UAW these past few months?
07/17, 7:21 PM
posted by:
frost
they should highly concider bringing in more or their global cars like the Colt, or Mini cars.
07/17, 7:37 PM
posted by:
TOZO
It’s one plant! What can the UAW do? If Mitsu doesn’t like the UAW’s terms, Mitsu can just close the plant. It’s not like the Normal plant makes any popular cars anyway. The Lancer/EVO from Japan is like all that sells now anyway. The Eclipse will be missed, but the Eclipse is better off switching to a Lancer platform anyway, while the Endeavor and Galant should be axed!
07/17, 8:57 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
====>>VictorRaikkonen, i would like to know what kind of BMW[with evo's performance] you can get for $36k. A salvaged 335i? What about Lexus. A totalled IS-F? Audi. A crumpled up //RS4?
07/17, 11:33 PM
posted by:
Kaizen
335s and IS 350s get vlow 5s compared to 4.9 for the EVO.
For $35K, the BMW or Lexus would get my money any day if it meant losing a hole shot to a car that makes you look 16.
07/17, 11:55 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
====>>^^yea, but where would you find ANY of those cars at for $35k? a foreign unknown land where all lux car prices r marked down 40%??^^
07/18, 3:23 AM
posted by:
qpt_dude
Let’s see, a standard C-Class, a 1-Series, and i don’t care about Lexus enough to research, but you can get last year’s models pretty cheap.
On the subject, the Eclipse and Evo are the only cars i fear are going. The rest can burn. The Eclipse is a great entry-level sportscar, and the Evo continues a long line of great handling cars (even though, i agree its overpriced).
07/18, 9:39 AM
posted by:
xyunya
Evo is great car to buy, horrible to sell. Ask any Mitsubishi salesman what he will give you for your 3 y.o. Evo. It is like investing in GM stock.