The proposed four-year labor contact between Chrysler and the UAW was ratified over the weekend. In jeopardy of not being passed earlier this month, the deal was voted through by 56% of production workers and 51% of skilled trades workers. In addition, 94% of office and clerical workers and 79% of UAW-represented Chrysler engineers also approved the contract.
Similar to the deal inked with General Motors earlier this year, the Chrysler-UAW pact hinged on a two-tier wage system and a union-run retiree health care trust. Labor negotiations with Ford began last week and are expected to follow the blueprints set forth by the recently ratified contracts with GM and Chrysler.
“Our members had to face some tough choices, and we had a solid, democratic debate about this contract,” UAW president Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement. “Now we’re going to come together as a union — and now it’s on the company to move ahead, increase their market share and continue.”
