UAW goes on strike at Chrysler
The deal, which still requires ratification by UAW members, includes the creation of a retiree health care trust fund, Chrysler said. 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," UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement.
Forbes.com reported earlier in the day that the UAW and Chrysler had reached a tentative deal an hour after the 11 a.m. strike.
“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 Vice President General Holiefield in a statement.
10/10/07 The United Auto Workers launched a widespread strike against Chrysler LLC this morning after all-night negotiations failed to produce a tentative agreement on a new labor contract.
Thousands of UAW members took to the picket lines at Chrysler plants across the United States in the second walkout against one of Detroit's Big Three during this year's contract talks.
Talks between UAW and Chrysler negotiators broke off at about 11 a.m., when the strike deadline imposed by the union took effect.
Chrysler officials were aware that UAW workers were leaving plants but would not officially confirm any labor disruption. Representatives for the UAW could not be immediately reached for comment.
People close to the situation said that at least five Chrysler assembly plants were not included in the strike — the Jefferson North in Detroit, a truck plant in Warren, and plants in Belvidere, Ill., and Newark, Del.
The Jefferson North, Warren, Newark and Belvidere plants were among five Chrysler assembly plants that had been temporarily shut down this week to reduce inventories of slow-selling vehicles. Detroit News