UAW, GM 2015 contract talks begin

DETROIT — The United Auto Workers and General Motors opened 2015 contract talks today at the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources, where negotiations on a new national agreement will be discussed to replace the current four-year agreement that expires at midnight Sept. 14.

The center is located between the UAW Solidarity House and GM World Headquarters in downtown Detroit.

“We must continue working as a team to put the customer first, protect the long-term health of the company, bolster shareholder value and strengthen job security,” said GM CEO Mary Barra. “The global competition is intense, but if we continue to collaborate, there are opportunities for growth that will benefit our employees and the business.”

The steady march of auto jobs to low-wage Mexico is one of many contentious issues. But much of the bargaining will focus on pay.

Many workers want to scrap a two-tier wage system created seven years ago to help the companies cut costs when they were losing billions. A “second-tier” wage for new hires now tops out at $19.28 per hour, about $10 less than what longtime workers earn. That means new hires make 35 percent less for doing the same work.

Since the 2011 UAW-GM National Agreement, GM says it has announced U.S. facility investments of about $12.4 billion, creating about 6,250 new jobs and providing job security for about 20,700 employees.

For more information on UAW and GM during the contract talks, visit www.uawgmtalks.com and see Tuesday's Vindicator.