Contract talks set to begin

Jim Kaster, president of UAW Local 1714, is leaving for a job in Columbus.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
Contract talks begin Monday to try to save the Lordstown car plant -- again.
Union officials understand they are competing with other plants within General Motors Corp., said Jim Kaster, president of United Auto Workers Local 1714.
"We know exactly what it takes to get a product. We did it before, and we'll do it again," said Kaster, who represents 1,100 workers at the fabricating plant.
It's too early to talk about possible concessions until the talks begin, Kaster said. Both sides probably will have to give some, he said.
Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112 at the assembly plant, said negotiations will start with both sides talking about what they hope to accomplish.
He wouldn't go into specifics but added that both sides have the same end goal.
"I'm very optimistic that we're going to get a product for Lordstown," said Graham, who represents 2,700 workers.
GM has scheduled production of the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 at the complex only until the summer of 2009. The future of Lordstown is expected to be decided this year because plant renovations normally are announced two years in advance.
After years of concern, GM announced in 2002 that it was going to renovate the complex for the launch of the Cobalt, which came in 2004.
Sense of urgency
Kaster said the talks have a sense of urgency, even though the local contracts don't expire until September.
"We're trying to rush. We can't wait until everyone else has a contract," he said.
He credited John Donahoe, plant manager, and Jerry Butler, human resource manager, with building trust in their dealings with workers and the union. That has led to the union and management working together better than ever before, Kaster said.
He noted that skilled trades workers and supervisors worked on the line Wednesday when snow prevented some production workers from coming to work.
Will work for Dann
Kaster is retiring from GM, however, before the talks start. He has accepted a job in Columbus with Attorney General Marc Dann.
Kaster said he will be a facilitator in a new program that is designed to help businesses, labor groups and veterans solve problems. Kaster, who served in Vietnam as an Army Ranger, said he expects to be working a lot with veterans.
Kaster, who has 36 years at the plant, said he didn't take the 35,000 buyout GM offered last year because he wanted to continue working with Graham on keeping the complex open. He said Dann convinced him of the importance of the new job.
David Green, Local 1714 vice president, will be sworn in Sunday as president and will finish the remaining two years on Kaster's term.
The negotiations are led by the shop chairmen of the locals. Ben Strickland is shop chairman for Local 1112, and Will Adams leads the bargaining for Local 1714.
shilling@vindy.com