Friday, May 29, 2009
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UAW member Calvanita Peales of Newton Falls calls herself a GM gypsy after working in several plants. She was outside Metroplex after vote Thursday.
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UAW members Molly Less of Berlin center and James Simlins of Boardman embrace outside Metroplex after vote Thursday.
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VOTING ON CONTRACT: Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112, assesses vote turnout Thursday at the Metroplex Hotel in Liberty. Several of the autoworkers said they were relieved when they heard the details of the GM-UAW agreement that was reached by GM and UAW negotiators last week.
Lordstown had the highest rate of passage in the nation, a union representative said.
By Don Shilling
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
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UAW Locals 1112 and 1714 OK contract deal during Thursday May, 28, 2009 voting at Metroplex in Liberty.
With either a sigh of relief or a shrug of resignation, Lordstown workers supported contract concessions designed to help General Motors survive.
Local workers approved the contract revisions Thursday with 84 percent of the vote.
Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112, said he was told by the union’s international representatives that Lordstown GM passed the revisions by the highest percentage in the country. “Our members did their job. I think it sends a message to Detroit that we are confident in our international, and we still believe strongly in General Motors.”
Calvanita Peals, 59, of Newton Falls, put it this way after voting Thursday at the Metroplex Hotel in Liberty: “We have to do what we have to do.”
The GM veteran, who transferred to the Lordstown complex from a closed plant in Michigan last year, was one of those who didn’t like the concessions but was confident they would help GM get back on its feet.
“This, too, shall pass,” she said.
Others were relieved when they heard the details of the agreement reached by GM and United Auto Workers negotiators last week.
“They didn’t cut our wages and benefits — that’s what we need the most,” said Tracy Brubaker, 38, of Niles.
Concessions that included suspension of cost-of-living increases, performance bonuses and an Easter Monday holiday are tolerable, said her friend, Lisa McMinn, 27, of Struthers.
“The sacrifices weren’t as a bad as we thought. Job security, that’s what matters,” she said.
That’s exactly what Lordstown workers should have, said Graham.
The labor contract and a proposed deal with bondholders that was announced Thursday leave GM in good position to emerge from bankruptcy quickly if it takes that course, he said.
“I’m very confident that we’re going to get through this. GM is going to come out stronger, and Lordstown will be the backbone of the company,” he said.
On Monday, GM is expected to identify 14 plants that will be closed, but Graham said the future looks good for Lordstown because of preparations being made for the scheduled launch of the Chevrolet Cruze in April 2010.
Mitch Penman, 40, of Struthers, has been laid off since January but he and his friends have heard they might be called back in September as the plant begins to build test models of the Cruze.
Penman said he voted for the revised contract because GM needs help until the car market picks up, and it can recover.
“It’s better to make concessions than not have a job,” he said.
His friend, Mario Hernandez, 33, of Youngstown, said the younger GM workers are determined to do what they can to make sure the plant survives. There just isn’t anywhere else to go for a good job, he said.
“We don’t want Mahoning and Trumbull counties turning into a retirement community,” he said.
While active workers and those who are laid-off were voting on the revised contract, retired workers had no say in the matter.
That irked Dave Blosser, 62, of Cortland, who showed up to find out about the contract. He didn’t like that he was losing his vision and dental insurance.
“If it pertains to the retirees, we should have the right to vote. They know the retirees would have voted to shoot it down,” he said.
The active workers said, however, that concessions had to be made if GM is going to survive. Peals, who’s worked at five GM plants in 25 years, said she doesn’t fear the bankruptcy that seems likely.
“That’s just the way it is in America right now. People have to file for bankruptcy to reorganize,” she said.
shilling@vindy.com
SEE ALSO: GM and bondholders reach tentative agreement.