UAW President Discusses Contract Negotiations, Health Care Benefits
United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger in a speech at the start of the union’s two-day national bargaining convention in Detroit said that union officials are prepared to fight companies, including the Big Three automakers, at the bargaining table this year, the AP/Houston Chronicle reports. Contract negotiations with GM, Chrysler and Ford Motor officially begin this summer, although preliminary meetings already are taking place (Krisher, AP/Houston Chronicle, 3/27). The current contract expires Sept. 14. UAW has vowed to take a tough stance on health care in negotiations while continuing to advocate for a universal health care system. UAW in a draft resolution said it will resist “efforts by employers to escape health care and pension obligations by transferring risk to individual workers,” adding that “[e]mployers and their political allies are attempting to create a false sense of crisis about the long-term viability of health care and pension programs.” Automakers estimate that health care benefits add $1,000 to the cost of a U.S.-made car. Gettelfinger said the union is prepared to strike if agreements cannot be reached during negotiations
