According to president of United Auto Workers locals, three out of four major locals have already approved the tentative agreement between the union and Chrysler LLC.
Out of the 1,500 Chrysler workers at Local 869 in Chrysler's Warren Plant, 75 percent voted for the contract approval an the remaining 25 percent are dissidents according to Da Juan Tolbert, the local's recording secretary. The exact figures recorded are a total of 930 employees voted for the contract and 312 are against. The remaining 200 did not cast their votes.
In Chrysler's Truck Assembly plant, which is also in Warren, representing 2,600 Chrysler workers, the contract garnered 78 percent approval and 22 percent opposed. According to local president Melvin Thompson, a total of 1,961 of his workers felt good about the pact.
At local 1264 in Sterling Heights, 82 percent out of the 2,000 workers gave the contract their approval said local president Bob Stuglin. The local leader did not give the exact figure to how many voted for the contract but he said that it was the biggest approval votes his local ever given to a deal.
In local 1700, also in Sterling Heights, the votes are still being tallied on Wednesday night. This local makes Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger midsize cars representing 2,500 Chrysler workers.
Approvals of these locals will cause relief to UAW chief Ron Gettelfinger who had faced a lot of oppositions from his members regarding the new deal. Like any other contract to be implemented, the deal must gain majority of the votes.
The four union locals voting Wednesday represent more than 8,600 workers — or roughly 19 percent of the 45,000 workers who would be covered by the historic four-year agreement.
Angela Parker, a Chrysler employee who had worked for the automaker for 10 years initially rejected the contract but eventually gave her approval because she was persuaded by his local president and that the contract entails higher wages for those earning less. "That was my main concern, that they weren't going to be stuck making $16 an hour on the line doing the same jobs that we are doing," said Parker, 40.
Out of the 1,500 Chrysler workers at Local 869 in Chrysler's Warren Plant, 75 percent voted for the contract approval an the remaining 25 percent are dissidents according to Da Juan Tolbert, the local's recording secretary. The exact figures recorded are a total of 930 employees voted for the contract and 312 are against. The remaining 200 did not cast their votes.
In Chrysler's Truck Assembly plant, which is also in Warren, representing 2,600 Chrysler workers, the contract garnered 78 percent approval and 22 percent opposed. According to local president Melvin Thompson, a total of 1,961 of his workers felt good about the pact.
At local 1264 in Sterling Heights, 82 percent out of the 2,000 workers gave the contract their approval said local president Bob Stuglin. The local leader did not give the exact figure to how many voted for the contract but he said that it was the biggest approval votes his local ever given to a deal.
In local 1700, also in Sterling Heights, the votes are still being tallied on Wednesday night. This local makes Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger midsize cars representing 2,500 Chrysler workers.
Approvals of these locals will cause relief to UAW chief Ron Gettelfinger who had faced a lot of oppositions from his members regarding the new deal. Like any other contract to be implemented, the deal must gain majority of the votes.
The four union locals voting Wednesday represent more than 8,600 workers — or roughly 19 percent of the 45,000 workers who would be covered by the historic four-year agreement.
Angela Parker, a Chrysler employee who had worked for the automaker for 10 years initially rejected the contract but eventually gave her approval because she was persuaded by his local president and that the contract entails higher wages for those earning less. "That was my main concern, that they weren't going to be stuck making $16 an hour on the line doing the same jobs that we are doing," said Parker, 40.