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UAW Members Approve New Agreement With Rockwell Automotive

30 September 1997

UAW Members Approve New Agreement With Rockwell Automotive

    DETROIT, Sept. 30 -- UAW members at Rockwell International's
Automotive Operations have approved a new agreement with the
manufacturer of axles for heavy trucks and off-highway equipment, announced
UAW Vice-President Carolyn Forrest.
    Forrest, director of the UAW Independents, Parts and Suppliers Department,
said that UAW-Rockwell Automotive workers at plants in Ohio and Wisconsin
approved the new, three-year agreement by a 79% majority.
    The union negotiated increases in purchasing power for workers through a
combination of lump-sum payments, a general wage increase, and quarterly
cost-of-living allowance (COLA) adjustments.
    Gains in retirement benefits were negotiated for Rockwell Automotive
workers who retire under the new agreement.  The UAW also negotiated special
lump-sum bonuses to be paid to current retirees and surviving spouses.
    Rockwell provided the UAW with a written commitment that the new
collective bargaining agreement will be recognized by Meritor Automotive Inc.
Meritor takes effect on October 1, 1997 as a separate company conducting
Rockwell's automotive operations.
    Among additional improvements were renewal of a job and income security
program, increases in group insurance benefits, strengthened health and safety
language, strengthened seniority protections, an improvement in the skilled
trades starting rate to 90 percent of the top rate of the skilled
classification, and others.  The agreement provides for comprehensive health
care benefits, recommitment of the parties to employee involvement, and other
features.
    The agreement, which is effective until 10 a.m. on July 19, 2000, covers
approximately 900 members of UAW Local 1037 in Newark, Ohio; and 400 members
of Local 291 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

SOURCE  UAW