The UAW and Ford Motor Company have recently been in talks over a two-way modification to their existing labor agreement in order to bring costs in line to that of their cross-town rivals and Toyota . So far each UAW vote has gone in favor of the proposed changes, but some from Local 900 are questioning the results.
The agreement between the UAW and Ford was intended to limit costs by freezing new-hire wages, stop benefit increases, increase employee deployment flexibility, and eliminate the option for a strike in the short term. In exchange Ford promised $1,000 bonuses to each UAW worker and as well as pledge to add new factories or plants to increase labor needs.
The most recent vote on this amendment is stirring controversy, however, as some Local 900 UAW members believe that the majority voted against the changes and not for them. The UAW reported to The Detroit News that 51 percent of workers voted in favor of the ratification. One UAW member vocalized concerns, “Most everyone I talked to voted no. I voted no, too. My main concern was the ‘no-strike’ clause.”
There are also reports of the use of alternate ballots that lacked the usual numbering system used in UAW votes.
Voting is expected to be completed in the remaining UAW locales by the end of next week.
