Contract Delivers on Health Care, Economic Gains, Workers’ Rights
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| The 2003 UAW DaimlerChrysler National Bargaining Committee meets with UAW Pres. Ron Gettelfinger and UAW Vice Pres.Nate Gooden, center. |
On the opening day of 2003 auto negotiations, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger
stood in front of a banner that proclaimed “Bargaining for America.”
The UAW was sending a message both to the corporation and to all working Americans: The gains and protections won by our union help raise the standards for all workers.
These contract talks were the first time the UAW concluded negotiations with each of the Big 3 within days of their common expiration dates.
At a time when most employers are shifting the rising costs of health care onto the workers, Gettelfinger had publicly and repeatedly sent a clear message to the Big Three, Visteon and Delphi: no cost shifting or benefit reductions.
This four-year contract delivers on that promise, and more. It includes economic gains and improved pensions, and protects the many hard-won achievements of previous contracts.
This bargaining team faced difficult and demanding challenges due to the state of the economy and intense competition in the automotive industry.
This agreement addresses those challenges while also defending the interests of UAW members, our families and communities.
“There are no easy negotiations, but the times made these tougher than most, and it was great to have such a strong bargaining committee to work with,” said UAW Vice President Nate Gooden.
The proposed contract reflects the skill, experience and dedication of the national negotiating committee, chaired by Larry Williams of UAW Local 140, to win economic and benefit improvements for the active and retired membership.
“I commend Vice President Gooden’s team, the International Union staff who assisted the negotiators and this national negotiating committee who devoted many long hours to the bargaining process,” said Gettelfinger.
The 2003 UAW auto contracts set a pattern not just for the auto industry, but on a range of issues -- from health care to workers rights -- that are imporant to working families.
Duration and ratification
The proposed new agreement, once ratified, will be in effect for four years.
It will expire at midnight, Sept. 14, 2007. Changes proposed in this tentative
agreement will not take effect until the agreement is ratified by a majority
of the UAW DaimlerChrysler membership and only then on the appropriate effective
dates as specified.
This is a summary of the tentative contract language. In all cases, the actual
language of the contract will govern.
