GM, UAW come to tentative agreement

February 2, 2016 at 12:05a.m.

Agreement covers about 3,000 workers

LORDSTOWN

United Auto Workers Local 1112 members will vote on a new contract starting Feb. 22.

The union reached a tentative agreement for its local contract with General Motors on Friday. The contract covers about 3,000 GM Lords- town Assembly Plant Workers who build the Chevrolet Cruze.

UAW Local 1112 President Glenn Johnson said he “couldn’t be prouder” of the bargaining committee that had to withstand pressure from the company to take away work that has traditionally been work for UAW members.

“It will continue to be performed by our workers,” he said.

Issues the committee worked on during negotiations included health and safety, job standards, temporary employees, departmental language, material guidelines, medical coverage, restroom sanitation, skilled trades cross training and other issues, according to a flier sent out by Local 1112 on Jan. 20.

“This was a long and hard-fought negotiation that results in significant gains in local demands and no concessions,” a Local 1112 informational flier states.

The union is putting together a local union contract summary booklet that will be passed out Feb. 8 to members. Contract roll-out meetings will follow Feb. 12 for skilled trades and Feb. 14 during the regular membership meeting.

Members of 1112 will vote on the tentative agreement beginning Feb. 22 through Feb. 23.

UAW Local 1714’s negotiations are ongoing, President Robert Morales said Monday.

Negotiations for this contract, which covers fabrication plant workers at Lords-town, are moving in the right direction, Morales said on Monday.

Both Local 1112 and Local 1714 voted in favor of the national agreement with GM in November.

Ninety percent of the Local 1112 membership voted with 72 percent approving the national contract that includes pay raises across the workforce, improved health care for tier-two workers and an $8,000 signing bonus if ratified.

Eighty-seven percent of the Local 1714 membership voted with 65 percent approving the contract.