Lordstown union OKs labor contract

By Don Shilling

The contract passed with 56 percent of the vote.

LORDSTOWN — One of the two plants at the General Motors complex here has a new labor contract that is seen as vital for long-term security.

Union members at the fabricating plant ratified a local labor agreement in voting Thursday and Friday. United Auto Workers Local 1714 said that 56 percent of workers approved the deal.

The voting was split, however. Skilled trades workers backed the contract with 65 percent approval, while just 49.9 percent of production workers supported it.

The contract passed because it had the support of a majority of the total votes. Skilled trades workers can reject their part of the agreement and send it back to the bargaining table, but that did not happen. The plant employs 1,000 hourly workers.

Dave Green, Local 1714 president, could not be reached to comment but has told other media that the agreement will reduce the number of skilled trades workers at the plant and skilled trades classifications.

Tom Mock, a GM spokesman in Lordstown, referred questions to Green.

Local 1112, which represents about 2,400 hourly workers at the assembly plant, still is negotiating its local contract.

Industry analysts have said the local contracts are vital if the complex is to receive new models. GM is planning to end production of the current Chevrolet Cobalt design either in 2009 or 2010.

Local contracts cover plant-specific items such as job classifications and work rules. A national agreement that covers pay and benefits was approved in the fall.

shilling@vindy.com