Canadian Ford Workers Vote in Favour of New Contract

27 September 1999

    TORONTO -- Ford workers endorsed their new CAW contract by 94 per cent 
overall today with production at 94 per cent, skilled trades at 95 per cent, 
office voting 100 per cent, and the parts depot at 91 per cent.  Approximately 
5,000 workers turned out to the meetings.  Workers heard details of the 
contract at ratification meetings in Windsor, St. Thomas, Oakville (Hamilton 
Convention Centre), and Bramalea.

    The contract bargained at Ford sets the pattern for talks at the other
two companies.  In the 1996 round of bargaining, the refusal by General Motors
to accept the pattern resulted in a strike.

    Following the ratification and a meeting with CAW General Motors and
Chrysler master bargaining committees, CAW president Buzz Hargrove announced
Daimler/Chrysler as the next company in this year's Big 3 auto makers
bargaining.  The CAW set Tuesday, October 5 at 11:59 pm, as the strike
deadline for the Daimler/Chrysler talks.

    The CAW represents approximately 13,800 workers at Daimler/Chrysler.