Local 1714 approve contract, but issues remain

February 13, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

LORDSTOWN

The local contract that covers about 1,400 members of the United Auto Workers Local 1714 has been approved, but it has not been ratified.

Skilled-trades workers approved the new contract 68 percent to 32 percent, and production workers turned down the contract 52 percent to 48 percent.

Overall, the contract passed 53 percent to 47 percent.

Now, the union leadership will meet with employees from all three shifts from the General Motors Lordstown Assembly Plant at the union hall Thursday to find out what their concerns are with the local contract.

“At that point, the bargaining unit will take it with local management to try to resolve those issues,” said Robert Morales, president of the UAW Local 1714.

If the issues cannot be resolved that way, they will be sent up to the international union.

Local 1714 members will not take another vote on the contract.

“It’s hard to pinpoint right now exactly what the membership is not happy with,” Morales said.

UAW Local 1112 members will vote on a new contract starting Feb. 22.

Local 1112 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.

Both Local 1112 and Local 1714 voted in favor of the international 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.