Posted on 07/22/2007 2:01:10 PM PDT by madison10
DETROIT -
A union representing more than 2,000 of Delphi Corp.'s hourly workers said Friday it has told the auto parts maker that it plans to terminate its contracts, a first step toward a possible strike in October.
The International Union of Electronic Workers-Communications Workers of America said the notification, delivered in a letter earlier this week, comes as contract talks have dragged on concerning job security, wages and benefits.
"There is still much time to change our course," IUE-CWA Automotive Conference Board Chairman Willie Thorpe said in a statement. "But we cannot sit back and be unprepared. In our estimation, given the current state of talks, a strike is a real possibility, and we need to act accordingly."
Lindsey Williams, a spokesman for Troy-based Delphi, said that talks continue with the union. He said the company didn't plan to comment on communications between it and the union.
On Thursday, Delphi made more progress toward emerging from bankruptcy protection when a court approved a settlement with the United Auto Workers. Delphi's emergence from bankruptcy is expected before the end of the year.
The settlement with the UAW, Delphi's largest union, affects about 16,000 workers at 21 plants. The deal cuts wages for many longtime workers but secures thousands of jobs at plants that once were in jeopardy.
Deals still need to be reached with five other unions representing a total of about 3,000 workers, including the IUE-CWA.
The UAW deal came after two years of sometimes contentious negotiations and averted a threatened strike that would have crippled Delphi's biggest customer and former parent, General Motors Corp.
"We expect the talks will continue," GM spokeswoman Renee Rashid-Merem said Friday. "Beyond that we won't comment on the nature of the negotiations."
George Magliano, an auto analyst at consulting company Global Insight, said the union likely is trying to get Delphi's attention and raise the priority of its talks. He said he remains hopeful that a deal can be worked out with the IUE-CWA. He said a strike could disrupt auto production.
"Delphi or GM can't afford a strike at this point," Magliano said. "They can't afford to have these guys walk out."
The IUE-CWA has workers at three plants that Delphi plans to keep _ including Warren, Ohio, and Brookhaven and Clinton, Miss. _ as well as at three the company plans to sell or close, including Kettering and Moraine, Ohio, and Gadsden, Ala.
Delphi entered court protection in October 2005.
>>A union representing more than 2,000 of Delphi Corp.’s hourly workers said Friday it has told the auto parts maker that it plans to terminate its contracts, a first step toward a possible strike in October.<<
By October there won’t be much of Delphi left to strike against.
Can they say "off shoring"?
Apparently not. LOL
Hey, what the heck? Once the unions push the feds to mandate a $100 an hour minimum wage we’ll all be rich anwyay. Right? I mean, that’s how union economics works isn’t it?
Good thing I’m not looking to replace my almost seven year old GMC any time soon. Maybe in about eight years I will. I hope GM is still around in 2015.
Honda and Toyota will still be around by then. You might even be able to get yourself a US-made Honda or Toyota truck.
Congress needs to revoke the pro-union laws that result in these kinds of catastrophes. But don’t expect that anytime soon.
No need to worry. Soon the ceo’s and there helpers will have us all sold out to China and everywhere else and no one will have a job. But by then it will be too late for people to wake up and see whats happening.
You can get excellent Toyotas and Hondas built right here right now in the US.
The settlement with the UAW, Delphi’s largest union, affects about 16,000 workers at 21 plants. The deal cuts wages for many longtime workers but secures thousands of jobs at plants that once were in jeopardy.
In other words, keeping 16,000 dues paying union members is more important than streamlining processes and reducing production costs in order to keep the company solvent and the pay scales intact. I doubt the union will reduce its members dues in proportion to the wage cuts.
I keep my trucks until they're just about worn out. I figure on getting 12-15 years out of my 2001 GMC. I see no point in buying a new vehicle every few years. That's a sure fire recipe for perpetual indebtedness.
The UAW will not cease until the UAW is no more. I give it ten years, max.
There are plenty of jobs besides fitting part A into part B for 35 dollars per hour.
” To the death of such sluts I go rejoicing.”
Nah, they’re not sluts. Sluts put out for free.
They’re more like pimps. They whore out others and take a cut of the take.
Delphi declared bankruptcy in ‘05.
They make what? Car stereos? What else? They don’t sound too terribly important. I think the unions maybe should back off or the place just might cease to exist.
US-made Honda or Toyota truck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Their trucks are junk...perfectly reliable and all for your average private owner that never uses one for use as an actual truck, but if you are looking for a serious commercial use work vehicle, american is the only way to go.
They don’t see it that way. The union wants MORE MORE MORE - because it means more union dues in the pockets of the big-wigs.
But you are right about something- the UAW membership apparently want to be unemployed. Have they even thought to look at the sales figures/red ink reports of the Big 3?...
Stupid...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.