FLINT (WJRT) -
(01/29/13) - A Mid-Michigan UAW local feels General Motors is dragging its feet in contract negotiations. So union members will be taking a strike authorization vote.
Workers at two Delphi plants in Flint and Burton have been without a contract for two years.
"We've been put off and put off. It really comes down to the point where we want to make sure that commitment is hard and fast for the membership because they deserve it. They work hard and have good quality," said Art Reyes, UAW Local 651 president.
The parts made here are for Delphi, but the workers are General Motors employees. Reyes says they deserve to know what the future holds.
"We are saying we have earned this, please come to the table so we can talk about this," Reyes said.
Plant 43 makes instrument clusters for GM pickups. A redesigned pickup is coming in 2014 and there has been talk of the site continuing to make the parts, but nothing certain.
"We're bumping against time lines because we know that truck will be going into production and if we're going to actually build that part here as is their commitment, we have to get those things done," Reyes said.
Plant 77 makes aftermarket automotive products.
The nearly 860 UAW members in the two plants are being asked to give union leadership the powerful weapon of a strike authorization.
"As you move forward, you want to make sure when you go to the table with the company that you have all the tools available," Reyes said.
Local 651 members will attend informational meetings Wednesday and then vote Thursday.
General Motors had no comment on the labor unrest, except to say the company doesn't discuss contract negotiations in public.
