Auto plant leaders to meet today to discuss UAW's latest probable contract rejection

After the anticipated rejection of the national labor agreement between the United Auto Workers and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, leaders from UAW-represented plants are to meet today to discuss why workers spurned the contract and whether new bargaining or a strike should happen next. Some UAW locals voted Wednesday and results weren’t immediately available, but with UAW members at several large union locals overwhelmingly voting against the agreement, the contract’s approval was considered virtually dead. Marick Masters, professor of management at Wayne State University School of Business and director of Labor@Wayne, said he foresees three options for the union, but only two appear viable. One is to return to negotiations with Fiat Chrysler and another is to move on to negotiate national agreements with General Motors Co. or Ford Motor Co. and then come back to Fiat Chrysler, he said. “A third option is to strike, but I think that’s an unlikely possibility at this time,” he said. How much the two sides could accomplish at the bargaining table is unknown, Masters said.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 9/30

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