Chrysler strikes, settles
The UAW strike against Chrysler LLC began Oct.10 at 11:01 a.m. and ended nearly six hours later, with the announcement that the union and company had reached a tentative agreement.
“This agreement was made possible because UAW workers made it clear to Chrysler that we needed an agreement that rewards the contributions they have made to the success of this company,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.
“Once again, teamwork in the leadership and solidarity in the ranks has produced an agreement that protects jobs for our communities and also protects wages, pensions, and health care for our active and retired members,” said UAW Vice President General Holiefield, who directs the union’s Chrysler Department.
On Oct. 5 the UAW chose Chrysler as the second automaker to negotiate a contract. Three days later, Gettelfinger informed UAW locals to be prepared for a strike if the “basis for a tentative agreement” was not in place by the 11 a.m. deadline.
On what later became settlement day, the 11th hour passed and talks broke off, after the two sides failed to reach an agreement despite marathon negotiations at the company’s Auburn Hills, Mich., headquarters.
At 11:01 a.m. thousands of UAW Chrysler workers went on strike and manned picket lines at Chrysler plants across the nation in the second walkout against a Detroit automaker in this year’s talks. (UAW GM workers went on a two-day strike, which ended Sept. 26 with a tentative agreement and ratification. See story on page 12.)
With their top leadership bargaining under the theme, “Fighting for America’s Future,” rank-and-file UAW members and local leadership clearly understood the broader implications of this year’s contract negotiations.
“The UAW fights for the whole country, not just for Chrysler workers. This is survival right now because we have corporations willing to outsource their work overseas," said 15-year member Paul Caucci, president of UAW Local 869, which represents 1,500 members at Chrysler’s Warren (Mich.) Stamping plant.
The same spirit and sense of purpose was expressed by UAW members on Chrysler picket lines nationwide, including Kenosha, Wis.
“We’re not just taking care of workers at Kenosha Engine. It's for the community, and it strengthens the community, including our school system. Everybody benefits,” said Dan Kirk, a 26-year member and president of UAW Local 72, which represents about 800 members at the Kenosha plant.
These negotiations were the first for Chrysler as a privately owned corporation.
In August Chrysler was acquired for $7.4 billion by private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP. For nine years it was previously a division of German automaker DaimlerChrysler AG, since renamed Daimler AG.
