Ford workers narrowly approve new four-year contract

“Through a rational and democratic procedure U.A.W.-Ford members have produced occupation protection and powerful economical increases for their families and communities”.

Workers at U.S. auto giant Ford narrowly ratified the company’s four-year labor deal with the United Auto Workers, the labor union announced.

That stalled ratification, as the UAW investigated why the group representing about 8,500 workers – or about 16 percent of GM’s hourly workforce – voted against the deal.

As per the four-year agreement, which came into effect Monday, the union spent two weeks researching why skilled trades workers rejected the deal, even though it had been approved by production workers. Ford Motor Co. hourly members wrap up voting Friday on their tentative agreement, which could be defeated based on results thus far that indicate “yes” votes are trailing “no” votes.

UAW leaders have been meeting with the holdouts since then, and on Friday the leaders said they had chose to declare the contract ratified – a move that is allowed under the union’s rues.

The UAW may go back to the negotiating table if the Ford contract fails, and it could take workers out on strike.

The UAW can overrule a rejection by skilled trades workers if the global Executive Board finds the trades voted against the deal for reasons that are not unique to skilled trades classifications.

Those investments include $1.3 billion at the Louisville Assembly Plant and Kentucky Truck Plant. And it creates or retains 8,500 jobs.

The contract included bonuses of as much as $10,250 for each worker in 2015 and profit sharing annually as well as other types of bonuses annually following that.

But a few workers wanted more.

The average labor costs, of which pay is almost half, for GM workers will be $60 per hour by 2019, up from $55 an hour now, according to a new study by labor analysts released on Friday. “We have to accept it. I do feel blessed to get whatever they give me”. It said the contract helps the company, employees and their communities.

Ford is the last Detroit automaker to reach on latest national labor agreement with UAW, after GM’s confirmation of the deal. But then the tide turned and a few of the larger plants voted no. They gained critical mass and in the final days, the “no” vote had the lead and union leaders were scrambling to salvage the deal.

“A lot of people are upset”, said Joe Marx, 45, a Local 600 member who recently was bumped up from second-tier wages.

“Ms. Bell stopped getting raises over a decade past, so you are not doing me any favors by giving me 3 percent”.

A few Ford workers pointed to the outcome at FCA as evidence that voting “no” would produce a better deal for themselves as well.