GM strike authorization vote under way

GM strike authorization vote under way

LORDSTOWN — A strike authorization vote at the General Motors plant here comes as a news report indicates local bargaining has slowed.

Workers were deciding whether to give union leaders the authority to call a strike if talks become stalemated. Voting was to end Friday.

While the vote is routine, Automotive News said in a story last week that union leaders in Lordstown and Kansas City, Kan., are reluctant to accept GM’s proposals to bring in outside contracts to handle janitiorial, forklift and subassembly work.

Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112, declined to comment, but a flier issued by union leaders last week said there were many open issues in the talks.

Listed as sticking points were overworked jobs, team leader classifications, vacation approvals and overtime agreements.

Union leaders said the most important issue was to put the plant in the position to receive a new product. Production of the Chevrolet Cobalt at the plant is scheduled to end in 2009.

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.